Darren Moore condemns Sheffield Wednesday fans for booing the taking of the knee

Darren Moore condemns own Sheffield Wednesday fans for booing the taking of the knee saying that it reflects badly on the club.

His players chose to stop taking the knee ahead of last season, with Moore saying at the time “We support everything that taking the knee is for – what we’re saying at this football club is that enough is enough.

“The talking, the gestures, I think everyone wants to see action now. There’s a unified support right across the nation, and worldwide, and I think enough talking has been done on the topic – I don’t think anybody can say anything more.”

“What it does is paint a picture against #SWFC that is not us – we’re a wonderful historic club, and a community club… It’s for everybody.”

Five minutes from Darren Moore on those booing teams who choose to take the knee at S6 – and why he hopes it doesn’t happen again. 🦉⚽️ pic.twitter.com/i5T1ieeo8a

— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) November 25, 2022

Speaking to the media before the weekend’s FA Cup tie with Mansfield Town, Moore spoke passionately about his view on what unfolded before the League One match against Shrewsbury Town a few weeks ago – and asked any Wednesday fans who had deliberately booed the gesture to not do so again.

And here’s Darren Moore’s plea to #SWFC fans on taking the knee pic.twitter.com/bfPw7G359s

— Rob Staton (@robstaton) November 26, 2022

“I do remember the incident last week and while I do appreciate there was a bit of confusion about how it happened, the players lining up and what looked like a delayed taking of the knee. I can understand the confusion in that and how some of the fans may have seen it.

“This isn’t from me alone. We’ve had a lot of Sheffield Wednesday fans call and write in to the club to express their disappointment. Obviously it was disappointing to hear that at the time because what we have to remember is that the taking of the knee is a stance for everybody.

“It’s an equality purpose driven message worldwide. It’s not something that was dreamt up by the Shrewsbury players, it’s something that’s been done world wide and is continuing.

“Our players have chosen not to do it this season, but it’s been an approach by the players as one. But that’s not to stop the Shrewsbury players doing it, they wanted to take the knee.

“What I would say is that we have to use last week for an educational purpose. I’m not patronising anybody in any shape or means, what I want to do is to say that the taking of the knee is a stance from clubs like Shrewsbury, we didn’t.

“I’m not saying for all fans to agree with it or to sit and applaud it, but what we don;t want as a club is to have boos showing a disapproval of it.

“What that does is it paints a picture against Sheffield Wednesday. That’s not us. We’re an wonderful, historic club and a community club that is recognised for its wonderful fan base and its tremendous support. We’re a historic football club in the football pyramid. Lots of people look at Sheffield Wednesday as a fabulous football club.

“We are a fantastic football club and we want to be remembered for the positive things we are. We don’t want to be remembered for a section of our fans booing taking the knee for five or six seconds, whatever it is.

“We want to be spoken about for being a huge club, the wonderful fan base that we have and all the magical memories we have had and continue to have at Hillsborough.

“Tonight, England players will be taking the knee and we’ll be supporting them in that.

“What we want to do is have Hillsborough as a respected place and no matter what teams come, whether they take the knee, stand in a circle or drop a knee in their individual places before kick-off, I think to boo them paints the club in the wrong way.

“We have a fantastic fan base that is part of a community and along with other fans we take a unified stance on it.

“Equality is for all, you and I, anyone listening to this, It’s right across the board; skin colour, nationality, religion, it’s for everybody.

“I want to clear up that message and put that message out. We are a wonderful football club and we want to remain to be seen as that fantastic football club and not to be painted with negative connotations.

“I don’t stand alone with that because we have a lot of Sheffield Wednesday supporters ring and write in to express their disappointment at those boss.

“Let’s turn it around, let’s stick together. We have targets and aims and to get those we need to be together.

“Hopefully last week was just minor confusion.”

This is what social media users said as Darren Moore condemns Sheffield Wednesday fans for booing the taking of the knee…

@littlegannan: Well said Darren 👏👏👏

@chinapaul80: Tbh I disagree with the booing, but we can’t just assume that all those booing are racist. BLM as an organisation is as corrupt and money driven as any other. Whilst less known worldwide I thought Kick it Out was far better received than taking the knee before games.

@PME_Politics: Didn’t know this happened. Shame on those fans booing. The club has one of the few black managers in the professional English game. In 2022, you can still count that number on two hands. Wednesday is supposed to be a community club. A club for everyone. Unacceptable! #SWFC

@AndrewTice1: Well said Darren Moore. 👏 Last weekend was the saddest I’ve ever felt as a Sheffield Wednesday fan. And my heart sank when my 4 year old son asked me why the fans were booing?! #swfc

@jpowls: Nail on the head from Moore

@marshmellowowls: Boo’ing the knee doesn’t mean the club isn’t for everybody. Ffs get a grip

@stephen_carley: Spot on Darren. 👍👍👍

@EthanEd84496672: If BLM wasn’t Affiliated with taking the knee, I’m sure no one would be booing. They had the opportunity to not put them together, now to you can’t take them apart unfortunately.

@krisswfc69: No thanks stick to football

@realsimongore: So presumably no minutes silence for things like Remembrance Day then? That isn’t football either.

@Lizrickett: This is a very generous and classy answer from Darren. The replies tying themselves in knots about why – it’s just unnecessary

@DutchMcLovin: Every fans right to boo it

@Vonnie588: Don’t see why people feel the need to boo. Look at the number of black players in our squad, plus Darren himself & think how they must feel to have their own fans booing.

@hannancm1978: Well said Darren. Sadly, it will be beyond the comprehension of some “fans”

@Owls2k: An exemplary response to a pertinent question #swfc

@_owlornothing_: “we want to make Hillsborough a respected place” absolutely love this and so glad he spoke on it 💙 #swfc