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Man United's Solskjaer joins growing calls for better policing of social media

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has joined Newcastle boss Steve Bruce and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta in saying he has been subjected to abuse on social media.

Solskjaer has been on social media in the past but no longer has an account and with rising numbers of players and managers being abused online, he has called on social media companies to force users to use verification.

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"I've probably been abused right, left and centre, that's the way it is," Solskjaer told a news conference on Friday.

"I live in 2021 but I'm still old school. I've got kids on social media and if there's anything they tell me.

"Today with all the abuse and discrimination on social media for me it's simple, if you don't have proof of your ID you cannot open an account -- it's as simple as that. It would be so much easier to punish the numpties that have nothing better to do."

United are facing a busy week with Sunday's trip to West Brom in the Premier League followed closely by their Europa League last-32 first leg tie with Real Sociedad.

The fixture has been moved from Spain to Turin, Italy because of COVID-19 restrictions and Solskjaer has accepted Real Sociedad will be at a disadvantage having been ordered to play their home game at a neutral venue.

"With different governments and the travel in Europe it is difficult," Solskjaer said.

"It's not a decision we made but when one game is on a neutral venue it's a disadvantage to the team that doesn't have the home game. That's out of our hands. We can't say we'd go to Turin and play one game. I wouldn't mind that at all, it would be one game less."

Solskjaer has also revealed that youngsters Hannibal Mejbri, 18, and Shola Shoretire, 17, have been promoted to the first team squad for the rest of the season.

"We've moved Shola up with us, Hannibal will join us and we'll keep them with us for a while," he added.

"It's the next step in their development. It's a nice step for them, they've done really well."