West Brom midfielder Romaine Sawyers: Think of harm that vile abuse can cause

Sawyers received racist abuse after the Baggies’ defeat to Manchester City in January.

Since then a 49-year-old man has been arrested and charged by West Midlands Police under the Communications Act.

Simon Silwood, from Kingswinford, will appear before Dudley Magistrates’ Court. That appearance comes at a time when football is planning a mass boycott of social media.

A coalition of English football’s largest governing bodies and organisations, including the Football Association, Premier League and EFL, have confirmed they will go silent on social media in a show of solidarity against racism this weekend.

The FA Women’s Super League, FA Women’s Championship, Professional Footballers’ Association, League Managers’ Association, PGMOL, Kick It Out, Women in Football and the Football Supporters’ Association will also suspend all use of their social media accounts from 3pm on Friday April 30 until 11.59pm on Monday May 3.

And Sawyers says it is only by coming together that we can stamp out the abhorrent messages that are now being posted on social media platforms on a daily basis.

“It’s saddening and heartbreaking,” Sawyers said when asked how he felt after being targeted with racist abuse.

“It’s heartbreaking that I’m receiving such messages, especially when I’m just trying to ply my trade.

“We’re in the 21st century and it shouldn’t be happening. But this isn’t just a football situation, it’s a society situation.

“With my case in particular it’s got to the point where the male has been charged. And it’s good that it was then put back in the press about that.

“I think raising awareness about the initial situation and what’s going to happen in the future is good.

“People that want to help and want to crack down on it I would advise to come forward. Everybody has to rally together, and then that’s a message that’ll get through to the masses.”

Social media companies have been heavily criticised for their lack of action when it comes to dealing with racist and abusive trolls.

Asked what they can do to protect people, Sawyers said: “I feel if you have people in and around that area (decision-making) that have experienced it, I think naturally the process would be quicker.

“I think that gives us as players more reassurance because there are players that will receive it and think: is this a six-month path that I want to go down?”

While the racist abuse Sawyers received left him heartbroken, he massively appreciated all the people who sent him messages of support.

“I think I had more text messages that day than I did when we got promoted,” he said. “That speaks volumes of the people I’m around as playing staff, coaching staff, media staff, and my friends and family. It’s reassuring not to be alone and I’d hate that to happen to somebody and them to feel like they are alone because then they might not feel like they can step forward and highlight it.”

Asked what he would say to someone who posts racist abuse, Sawyers said: “I feel like you need to understand the words you’re using, the background of the person, and the background of the words you’re using.

“I’s an uncomfortable conversation but one we have to have.”