Albion are supporting the EFL's Together Against Racism campaign in their fixture against Preston North End this weekend.
At the Baggies, we believe that football is a game for everyone, everywhere, and we are proud of the welcoming atmosphere that you create at The Hawthorns every matchday. However, last season there were still 141 incidents of racist abuse at EFL grounds and more than 5,000 incidents of online abuse, plus more that likely went unrecorded.
To tackle the rise in online abuse and protect players, the EFL employs Athletia, a social media monitoring system that reviews public posts relating to players and officials across EFL clubs. The League also continues to work with social media platforms and the Football Policing Unit to ensure perpetrators are identified and sanctioned accordingly.
Racism will not be tolerated and we stand together to remove it from our game.
Those engaging in racist abuse face up to five years in prison and football stadium bans of 10 years. Last season, 17 fans were banned from their clubs and 24 faced police convictions for racist abuse at EFL grounds, with many more being referred for restorative justice or still under investigation.
Albion strives to ensure the club is truly reflective of the diverse communities it represents and stands side-by-side with players, managers, supporters, and the EFL to tackle racism in our game.
One Club. One Community. Together Against Racism.
If you witness racist or discriminatory abuse, you can report it directly to the club via the phone number 07929 221878, or alerting your nearest steward.
Albion will take swift and firm action against anyone identified in making racist or discriminatory behaviour, working with the relevant authorities to ensure perpetrators face club sanctions and police action.
