In January 2021, Chelsea’s Reece James suffered racist abuse on social media. Unfortunately, the England defender was only the latest player to be targeted by hate online.
Chelsea decided a change was needed and increased their efforts to fight racism by launching their No To Hate campaign.
The campaign has built upon the work the club already undertakes to tackle anti-Semitism and all other forms of discrimination.
The initiative cover three key areas: targeting online hate, outlining why abusers shame football and changing the culture of the game.
In May of the same year, Chelsea released their own social media policy as a guide for fans on engaging with the club, players, staff and other fans online. It details the action the club will take and asks fans to take, should they see online discriminatory abuse.
Through the campaign, Chelsea have aimed to create a positive social media experience that is more inclusive and safer.
The club has tried to raise awareness on the dangers of online hate by highlighting the impact abuse is having on society. Chelsea have created new opportunities for coaches from black, Asian and historically under-represented ethnic communities and females to tackle the lack of representation within the game.
The Chelsea Foundation also teamed up with the Black Collective of Media in Sport to offer aspiring sports journalists from under-represented backgrounds free access to journalistic qualifications.
