Imps stand against racism

The Imps are supporting the EFL’s Together Against Racism campaign in their fixture against Stevenage on Saturday.

Tomorrow’s top of the table clash is Lincoln City’s last home game for four weeks and has an early 12.30pm kick-off.

In a message to fans a club spokesman said: “At City we believe football is a game for everyone, everywhere, and we are proud of the welcoming atmosphere that you create at the LNER Stadiumevery matchday. 

“However, last season there were still 141 incidents of racist abuse at EFL grounds and more than 5,000 incidents of online abuse, with 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 dealt with.

“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.

“Everyone at City strives to ensure it 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 through Kick It Out, the Club’s reporting mechanisms, or by alerting a steward.”

The football club has pledged to take swift and firm action against anyone identified making racist or discriminatory behaviour, working with the relevant authorities to ensure perpetrators face club sanctions and police action.

It runs an anonymous online form for supporters to report any concerns around safety or inappropriate behaviour and chanting in or around the stadium. Use the QR code placed around the stadium or click here.