Thierry Henry declared ‘football is powerful’ and can affect real change in society as the praised the social media boycott planned by the English game this week.
The Arsenal legend joined talkSPORT Breakfast on Monday morning to talk about the boycott after he himself came off social media last month following abuse.
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Every club across the Premier League, English Football League, Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship will switch off their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts from 3pm on Friday 30 April to 11.59pm on Monday 3 May.
The seismic move – which involves the FA, PFA, LMA, PGMOL, Kick It Out and FSA – comes after numerous players have suffered racist abuse on social media in recent months.
“I wasn’t the first one. A lot of people came of social media. A lot of unknown people came off social media for being abused,” Henry told talkSPORT Breakfast.
“A lot of football players came off social media. I was the first one that maybe could have an impact.
“I realised that if I came off social media, I’d had enough in fairness, it would create a little wave.
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“A lot of people came off social media before and perhaps you have to realise you can have a voice for the people who have not had that voice.
“Now if you go back to what’s happening now, we are quick to see a problem in the game and you have to give credit where credit is due.
“What’s happening now, I thought it was going to happen a little bit before, but it’s finally happening.
“Football is powerful. The press is powerful and if we come together and the strength of the pack can achieve something.
“This is the start and hopefully it can carry on.”
Henry also made comparisons to the collective actions by football fans last week who helped bring an abrupt end to the European Super League plans.
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He added: “It’s very difficult to change a problem we have in society forever. Since I can remember, stories from my mum, it’s going to carry on forever.
“We can have an impact on who is talking on those platforms or we can protect our game.
“We saw when everyone came together last week what happened with the Super League. It lasted two days.
“If everyone came together on racism issues, bullying, whatever problem we have in our game things can happen.
“If you come as an individual, nobody cares. Companies only care when you comes as a pack.
“When the people talk, people will get something.
“It was a great victory for everybody that loved football. When we all come together nobody can do anything.”
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When asked if he’ll return to social media, he said: “I’m not done. It’s a great tool. For you guys to create a buzz. I understand. People will use the tool as a weapon.
“Right now, I’m on holiday. I don’t know when the honeymoon is going stop and I’m going to return to work.”
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