During recent months, a series of player-targeted racist incidents have blighted the sport, both in the UK and across the world, so the PFA have launched #Enough - a campaign which ‘encourages players not to use any form of social media' from 9am on 19 April to 9am the following day.
The boycott is designed to display unity among the players, and to demand more decisive and effective responses to acts of racist abuse from social media networks and football’s governing bodies.
Smalling said:
“Throughout my career I have developed a thick skin against verbal abuse, justifying it as just ‘part of the game’ but the time has come for Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to consider regulating their channels, taking responsibility for protecting the mental health of users regardless of age, race, sex or income.