Ex-Coventry, Liverpool, Wigan, Sheff Wed player Chris Kirkland wants social media trolls to be jailed due to the impact it has on the victims mental health.
The former professional goalkeeper says greater deterrents must be put in place in order to stop people abusing players online.
This is why this needs to happen now ,said this in an interview a week ago and meant every word,and the authorities need to act before more heartbreaking and tragic things like this happen ,Guarantee if the laws to be make an example of just 1 Troll !! It will stop a lot of this pic.twitter.com/le8HNnQoFH
— Chris Kirkland (@ChrisKirkland43) February 15, 2020
Kirkland has previously spoken out about his own struggles with mental health, and posted on Twitter last July to say he had checked into a rehabilitation centre in north Wales after historic problems flared up again.
He told the PA news agency: “Social media, it’s poison.
“You can use it for good, but unfortunately a lot of people don’t seem to realise that. You’ve got people going on there saying ‘I wish you were dead’, ‘I hope your kid dies of cancer’.
“People can be traced and they’ve got to make examples of these people – I’m talking jail sentences. That’s the only way you’re going to stop it. At the minute you can put anything on.
“I was at the gym a couple of months ago and a lady said to me ‘I just want to say thanks for coming out and talking, my son was having a bad time at school with bullies on social media’.
Players often contact him as a first port of call when they do not feel comfortable speaking to their clubs.
“I’ve been to see players, speak to them on the phone, some are not ready to do anything about it yet, some will,” he said.
“It can be addictions, trauma, people struggling with injuries who have been out for long periods.
“It really varies – pressures of playing the game, it’s everything you can imagine.”
Kirkland says he first began to struggle with mental health after leaving Wigan for Sheffield Wednesday in 2012.
“Since moving up to Liverpool in 2001 we lived in the same area, everything was fine,” he said.
“All of a sudden I had to start travelling, I wasn’t comfortable being away from home for long periods. I’d get stuck in traffic and there were panics. It started with that really.
“Sheffield Wednesday knew there was an issue but they thought it was with Leeona my wife, they were incredible with us. But it slowly got worse as time went on.
“I left there in 2015 even though they wanted me to sign again – and I did want to sign again because it was so good and the fans were amazing. But I knew I needed to get somewhere closer to home and I thought that would fix the problem, but it didn’t.
“By then I was too far gone.”
In more recent times, he’s been going to counselling and posted on Twitter last July to say he had checked into a rehabilitation centre in north Wales after historic problems flared up again.
He is planning on visiting schools and prisons for the LFC Foundation, something which is helping him to stay active.
Absolutely brilliant this ,well done @LFCFoundation and @MCATEER4 can’t wait to get involved and help with it ??? https://t.co/4iRtQrA6u1
— Chris Kirkland (@ChrisKirkland43) February 21, 2020
After being asked about what his stay at Parkland Place taught him, he replied: “How to rationalise things. I know now that exercise is a massive thing – I need to exercise every day.
“I know not to withdraw myself, I have to get up and do something, that’s why I’m looking forward to starting with the foundation, I’ll be out a lot of the time now. I still have bad days when I feel like crap, but I know they don’t last.”
Fans gave their reaction as Chris Kirkland wants social media trolls to be jailed…
Make people register details for social media would be a good start but the newspapers are vile the way they go after people
— Johnny Hunt (@Huntyroyal) February 15, 2020
Yes totally understand your point,but if they make an example and put just 1 person behind bars for trolling surely it will scare these trolls knowing a prison sentence awaits if they are caught and hopefully a lot will stop doing it
— Chris Kirkland (@ChrisKirkland43) February 15, 2020
1 person calling you something is too much Jordan !!
— Chris Kirkland (@ChrisKirkland43) February 15, 2020
This just shows how important it is to be nice to each other both in person and on social media,the media made accountable. Think about that one comment you make, you don't know what effect its gonna have ??❤️?
— Gary mercer (@Garymv) February 15, 2020
Social media causes far more harm than it does good. It needs to me regulated, policed and patrolled or nothing will change. It's the devil in disguise. Without it stupid shows like love island wluldnt even bloody exist.
— Ben Paglia (@benpaglia) February 15, 2020
That's unfortunate but if that is the case he should stay off twitter
— Mike Sleigh (@MikeSleigh1) February 7, 2020
I mean, you can block anyone you want on Twitter.
— Jordan (@JJW_13) February 7, 2020
Depends on the levels. Harmless ribbing and a bit of back and forth is part of life. Once a lines been crossed however I’d agree with action. Having to verify your account would shut half of them down before it starts. It’s all the faceless ones that go too far.
— Robert Espie (@mrrobespie) February 7, 2020
This is the downside of Social media, I've always said don't say anything about someone that you're not willing to say to their face & you won't go far wrong. #Fact
— Stephen Ball (@sjball1951) February 7, 2020
You must be logged in to post a comment Login