Crewe Alexandra have posted to social media following a weekend-long silence challenge platforms to try harder to stop online abuse.

It comes after all football clubs in Cheshire and across the country boycotted social media to encourage more accountability for what is posted on their platform.

Abusive messages to footballers have risen sharply during the pandemic.

In a statement posted early this morning, the club had this to say.

"English football, sporting organisations and people across the world united over the weekend to boycott social media, challenging platforms to do more to stop online abuse.

"We now call Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to use their power to affect change and ensure there are real-life consequences for online hate.

We invite these social media companies to respond to our requests for action."

The statement ended with use of the hashtag #STOPONLINEABUSE.

The club did not post their most recent match report until this morning, despite a win in Bristol at the weekend.

Saturday's 1-0 victory over Bristol Rovers leave Crewe 14th in League One on 63 points.

Callum Ainley scored the only goal of the game in the 18th minute. Read more on our match report.

"We have shown the power of the collective and the ball is now in the court of social media companies to step up and use their powers to affect change," they added.

The statement was the first social media post on the club since 2:58pm on Friday.

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