English soccer clubs and authorities will join forces for a four-day social media blackout starting on April 30 in an effort to force online platforms to tackle racist abuse towards players.

The Premier League, English Football League and Women's Super League have all agreed to take part, while the Football Association and anti-racism group Kick It Out will also be involved.

The move comes after a host of players, including Manchester United's Marcus Rashford and Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, were the subject of racist abuse this season.

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Sanjay Bhandari, the Chairman of Kick it Out, says the game now has no choice but to take drastic action because of the inaction of social media platforms.

"This boycott signifies our collective anger," he said. "Social media is now sadly a regular vessel for toxic abuse. 

"By removing ourselves from the platforms, we are making a symbolic gesture to those with power. We need you to act. We need you to create change. We need social media companies to make their platforms a hostile environment for trolls rather than for the football family."

A number of current and former players also noted how swiftly the threat of the European Super League was nullified compared to the continued struggle for co-ordinated action against racism.

Sheffield United striker David McGoldrick welcomed the move. "It is about time. What has gone off on social media, it has happened to me," he told Sky Sports on Saturday.

"It has happened to many players. Something needs to happen, it is too easily to get racially abused on there."

Thierry Henry deactivated all of his social media platforms in March in protest at the issue, while Arsenal's Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang did the same for 24 hours last week.