Monday 15 April 2019 13:33, UK
Notts County have imposed indefinite bans on some supporters following social media abuse, with one "particularly malicious tweet" reported to police.
Magpies players and owner Alan Hardy have been heavily criticised this season as the League Two club struggle financially and face the possibility of relegation from the Football League.
The club said a number of comments from supporters "overstep the line between fair criticism and vile, threatening abuse".
"Notts County have reported a number of individuals for abusive comments made on social media," read a club statement.
"The club fully accept this has been a bitterly disappointing and frustrating season for fans and respect their right to voice their displeasure, be that at matches or online.
"However, Notts officials, players and staff have recently been subjected to an increased number of comments which overstep the line between fair criticism and vile, threatening abuse, many of which have a knock-on effect on the families of those targeted. This can not and will not be tolerated."
The statement continued: "The club have been in contact with Nottinghamshire Police to report one particularly malicious tweet, while legal advice is being sought in relation to comments made by other individuals.
"Formal proceedings against the protagonists are likely to commence shortly and indefinite club bans have been imposed."
Premiership rugby club Leicester Tigers last week took similar action, reporting incidents of "disgusting personal abuse" of players and their families to police.
The Notts County statement continued: "Recent communications from Leicester Tigers RFC and Crawley Town illustrate that this is a growing - and concerning - problem in professional sport.
"Notts stand in solidarity with those clubs and implore supporters to consider the potential impact of what they're saying - often in the heat of the moment - before doing so."
