Tommy Martin: In the age of online hate, every bit of kindness helps

Why is sport, particularly professional football, assailed by this constant backdrop of online venom?

Mike Dean's family received death threats on social media following West Ham’s game with Fulham last Saturday. Photo: Clive Rose/PA

Maybe Billy Burns got off lightly. It could have been worse. Especially if he was black, a woman, or a referee.

Take Mike Dean, the Premier League official whose family received death threats on social media following West Ham’s game with Fulham last Saturday.