Yesterday, British telecom company BT announced the creation of Hope United, which includes various top footballers, as their new project to raise awareness of online abuse.
Hope United's Mission
Abusive comments and online behaviours have been a hot topic for quite a long time, especially since the rise of social media.
BT has commissioned a research on this problem and found 1 in 10 has received online abuse last year.
Hope United features the likes of: Gareth Bale, Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Lucy Bronze etc. with Rio Ferdinand as one of the managers
Footballers who join the project will give a lesson on the topic, starting from May 27 with Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold and Lucy Bronze Manchester City Women's Lucy Bronze.
“Some believe that social media abuse is an inescapable part of life for footballers. Hope United wants to show that this doesn’t have to be the case,” says Jordan Henderson.
Meanwhile, Karen Carney, talks about her past experience with the abuse she received: “It was relentless. I can’t even describe it. I’m low key, a simple girl who loves football. I don’t want to be bombarded on social media platforms. It wasn’t for one hour, it was for three or four days and now it still comes up – people still send me abuse.”
Rio Ferdinand, joint head coach of the team, is hopeful of the project: “I am delighted to have been appointed the manager of Hope United. I’m proud to head up a team of players from across the Home Nations who want to work together in a bid to raise awareness of online hate, and also encourage people to spread positivity and hope ahead of the Euros this summer.”
The full line-up of Hope United is as followed:
HEAD COACHES:
- Rio Ferdinand, Karen Carney, Eni Aluko & Robbie Savage
PLAYERS:
- Jordan Henderson – England midfielder
- Jesse Lingard – England attacker
- Marcus Rashford – England attacker
- Gareth Bale – Wales attacker
- Andy Robertson – Scotland defender
- Lucy Bronze – England defender
- Demi Stokes – England defender
- Trent Alexander-Arnold – England defender
- Rebecca Sellar – Scottish para-footballer
- Liam Palmer – Scotland wing-back
- Ethan Ampadu – Wales defender
- Dan James – Wales attacker
- Helen Ward – Wales striker
- Jamal Lewis – Northern Ireland defender
- Charlie Fogarty – Northern Ireland para-footballer
- Lauren James – England attacker
Hope United Kit
Here are what the players of Hope United will wear.
The shirt of Hope United is a colourful combination of blue, purple and pink on a black background. The vivid colours form the graphic of the word "Hope" that is enlarged on the front of the shirt.
The team's logo is on the left side of the chest while the BT logo is at the centre of the body.
Black short and socks complete the full uniform of Hope United.
What do you think of BT's Hope United? Tell us in the comment.