Online trolls did not force Wijnaldum’s Anfield exit but it has highlighted a ‘major issue’ – The Athletic

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James Pearce has highlighted FSG’s failure to hand Gini Wijnaldum “attractive enough terms” as the main cause for the Dutchman’s departure from Anfield on a free this summer.

It had been suggested that social media abuse suffered by the player had factored into such a decision, though this has been since refuted.

“It’s important to stress that Wijnaldum wasn’t suggesting for a minute that his treatment at the hands of the trolls convinced him to leave,” the renowned reporter wrote for The Athletic.

“The reality is that he would still be at Anfield now if FSG had returned to the negotiating table with attractive enough terms.

“Liverpool don’t have a monopoly on cowards who hide behind the anonymity of social media accounts and target players with foul-mouthed abuse when the team’s fortunes dip.

“He will discover that soon enough at star-studded PSG, who have a smaller but still global fanbase.

“However, Wijnaldum has shone a light on what is a major issue for clubs and players, who have grown increasingly frustrated at the abject failure of social media companies to properly police their platforms.

“The argument that these are multi-millionaires who should be able to ‘take it’ or that it ‘comes with the territory’ is ignorant at best.

“The same goes for those who argue players should just avoid reading the comments on their posts.”

The former No.5 has since made a switch to PSG, signing a three-year deal that will keep him in the French capital until 2024.

READ MORE: ‘Robbo is fuming!’ – Lijnders explains coaching drill Liverpool have implemented to improve finishing

When considering the debates over the reasoning for Wijnaldum’s Merseyside exit, it’s important to not lose sight of the main issue underlying the player’s comments – online abuse.

Pearce is correct to point out that it is not an issue endemic to Liverpool but rather a global concern in dire need of a united response from those caretakers in charge of social media platforms.

When debating over the extent to which such abuse factored into our former midfielder star’s departure, we’re essentially losing sight of the core issue at hand.

EOTK Insider Opinion: Carragher’s made an interesting point about Wijnaldum but he’s off the mark on one thing

More Stories Gini Wijnaldum James Pearce Liverpool

2 Comments

  1. I am a season ticket holder and have been for years. The divs on twitter and the rest just don’t count and target anyone they feel like. The match going supporters are the ones that count, so while it’s unpleasant to experience their attention it’s part of the scene these days. To move clubs because of them is a smokescreen.

  2. I think your talking about something different here. I suspect what Gini was peeved about was that he was always the “whipping boy” when results didn’t go our way. I have to agree with him on that point, because I saw it too. Regardless of the failing of certain other players, it was always a Gini’s who got stick. Over time, that has to grate with you no matter how thick skinned you are. Other clubs have them, Arsenal have Xhaka, Utd have Pogba, over the years England have had John Barnes and Wayne Rooney. Shame he had to bring it up, but much like so much that is reported, I will let it lie and remember the header against Barca and the eye bulging celebration, or the winner against City a few Christmases ago, he gave a lot to us and I am truly happy he got himself a big contract to take him into the twill of his career. Keep smiling Gini, YNWA.

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