OXFORD United players have spoken out against online abuse as English football gets set to boycott social media.

The U’s will join clubs across the men’s and women’s game in switching off their Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts from 3pm tomorrow until 11.59pm on Monday.

It aims to emphasise social media companies must do more to stamp out online hate, while highlighting the importance of educating people in the ongoing fight against discrimination.

The boycott will run across this weekend’s fixtures, so United will not provide updates from Saturday’s crucial Sky Bet League One clash with Shrewsbury Town.

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A positive result could put the U’s back in the play-off places, but captain Elliott Moore feels staying silent on a big weekend will make a statement.

The centre back said: “Social media’s a great way to interact and be with everyone without being there.

“But the abuse and the negatives are not good.

“Boycotting social media for the three days will show what we mean and hopefully send a powerful message.”

It follows several public instances of trolls sending footballers racist insults, but Moore knows all players can be on the receiving end of abusive messages.

“I’ve had them and a lot of the players would say the same,” he said.

“Racism, like all abuse, is not tolerated and we don’t expect it anywhere.

“The companies need to be stricter, it shouldn’t get to anyone.

“I know everyone has opinions and football players are in the limelight, but everyone’s human.

“You wouldn’t send it to your friend, so why do it to us?”

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Clubs across the Premier League, English Football League, Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship will take part, while the FA, Kick It Out and the Football Supporters’ Association are among the other organisations set to fall silent.

U’s forward Rob Hall has been on the receiving end of vile abuse and says it has to stop.

“I have had plenty of tweets and comments on Instagram that I would just love to reply to, but I have to stay silent a lot of the time,” he told United’s official website.

“Whether they are senior footballers or just young kids; how do you know how that person is going to take it?

“I don’t know what people get out of things like that: does it make them feel like a bigger person?

“I think it’s cowardly and something has to happen.

“Why should I come away from social media myself because other people can’t behave themselves?

“It’s like teams walking off the pitch if a player is racially abused.

“Why should I have to walk off because someone is doing that?

“I should stand tall and do my job, which is playing football.

“But if you don’t take a stand together, then what else can you do?”