Millwall fans have chosen to boo their own players as they take the knee for ‘Black Lives Matter’ before kick off on Saturday.
For the first time in eight months, 2,000 Millwall supporters were allowed inside the stadium for the visit of Derby County in the Championship clash this afternoon.
Journalists and reporters at the game were said to be angered to hear loud boos at the start of the league encounter and soon video footage emerged online. Yet there was no mention of it on Sky Sports News.
Millwall booing the knee😐 pic.twitter.com/v3qfXRmf0Z
— Oliver⚒🎄 (@HammerzOliver) December 5, 2020
The statement released by Millwall read: ‘We are fully supportive of the efforts in ridding the sport, and society, of all forms of discrimination.
‘It is our duty to reinforce the positive messaging.
‘Taking the knee, for us, is in no way representative of any agreement with political messaging or ideology.
‘It is purely about tackling discrimination.’
Queens Park Rangers made the decision to stop taking the knee in September with director of football Les Ferdinand saying the gesture had ‘reached a point of “good PR” but little more than that’.
He added: ‘Taking the knee was very powerful but we feel that impact has now been diluted.
‘In the same way ‘Clap For Carers’ was very emotional for us all, it got to a stage where it had run its natural course and the decision was rightly made to stop it.
‘No one is more passionate than me about this topic. I have spoken on the matter throughout my footballing life.
‘I work for one of the most diverse football clubs in this country. A lot of people are being fooled out there.
‘What are our plans with this? Will people be happy for players to take the knee for the next 10 years but see no actual progress made?
‘Taking the knee will not bring about change in the game – actions will.’
The EFL decided to allow individual players and teams in the Football League to make their own decision on whether to continue taking the knee while the gesture still takes place in the Premier League.
The Premier League have said it will continue to give its backing to players who want to kneel before games, which started last season following the death of George Floyd and subsequent rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.
“We still feel strongly about taking the knee and we will carry on doing it until there’s change,” Brighton captain Lewis Dunk told Sky Sports News.
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson stressed that both messages remained crucial.
“Both messages [Black Lives Matter and No Room For Racism] are vitally important,” he said.
“No Room For Racism does not exclude Black Lives Matter. Football players are taking so much responsibility and showing that they really care about this important issue in our society.”
Crystal Palace duo Patrick van Aanholt, Wilfried Zaha, former Arsenal forward Ian Wright, Sheffield United’s David McGoldrick and Borussia Dortmund signing Jude Bellingham were all subjected to online racist abuse at the end of last season.
Fans reacted as Millwall fans BOO their own players as they take the knee before kick off…
Take it you never seen the millwall documentary they did? They abuse their own too
— James Lowe 🏆⚽️ (@jameslowe18) December 5, 2020
Millwall fans 🤢🤢🤢🤢
— Football=Pain (@bha_tomorrow) December 5, 2020
Your dog is clapped
— Callum Culture (@CallumCulture) December 5, 2020
Odd that it wasn’t even mentioned by the @SkyFootball reporter at the game
— Guy Pearson (@GuyPearson1) December 5, 2020
Absolutely wonderful, Millwall 5 minutes ago, the players came out and took the knee and the boo’s rang out around the Den, all live on TalkSport radio, that Lefty twat Adrian Durham didn’t know what to say apart from “absolute shocker” before quickly cutting for a break 😂 pic.twitter.com/dR90VwXsmH
— TommyLions (@tommylions56) December 5, 2020
Well done Millwall 👏🏻 politics and football shouldn’t mix, about time this nonsense stopped.
— The Wolves Chat (@TheWolvesChat) December 5, 2020
Millwall fans have waited 6 months to get to see their team, first thing they do is boo the knee
Gammons
— Kyle (@Kyledcfc18) December 5, 2020
Reality is Millwall fans booing players taking a knee doesn’t surprise many!!!
— Trevor Sinclair (@trevor8sinclair) December 5, 2020
Millwall fans actually just booed the players when taking the knee for BLM.
Absolutely disgusting fan base.
— Jacob Hackett (@jhackett__) December 5, 2020
Equality isn’t a political matter
— dunnodunno (@Lewis40501883) December 5, 2020
Millwall fans have waited 9 months to go to a football match and the first thing they do is boo the players taking the knee. I’d be lying if I said I was surprised
— West Ham Transfers (@westhamtransfer) December 5, 2020
The knee has to go.. it’s nothing more than a extreme left wing political stunt which aims to defund police created by a far left group.
Everyone knew the Crowds would turn against it once they returned. Won’t just be @MillwallFC supporters booing.
— James Holden (@MrJames007619) December 5, 2020
And that’s exactly why they should keep doing it!
— Joe McClarnon (@JosephMcclarnon) December 5, 2020
Millwall fans booing as players #TakeTheKnee to #BlackLivesMatter will divide Twitter
Some will say: it’s “proof” the club/Britain is racist
Millwall fans might reply: “why should we kneel to a mob that desecrated the Churchill statue & Cenotaph?” pic.twitter.com/OLPrjp5zpe
— Martin Daubney (@MartinDaubney) December 5, 2020
What am I seeing at the Millwall game. The players take the knee and the 2000 fans are booing. The efl have to be strong and take serious action against this. Everytime I’ve played there ive heard a form of racist abuse this has got to stop.
— Greg Halford (@GregHalford15) December 5, 2020
Millwall fans boo taking the knee before the game, thoughts? pic.twitter.com/33WOBIk0MC
— DCFC_Banter_Page (@PageDcfc) December 5, 2020
Embarrassing that is from Millwall fans but water is wet
— Jack Hudson (@jackhud98) December 5, 2020
Looking at the comments to this its no surprise. Quite sad that this is the reaction to a simple three-second call for equality
— Out of Context Football Manager (@nocontextfm1) December 5, 2020
To be apathetic to something and question it’s ongoing effectiveness is one thing. To actively boo it is quite something else. And it puts new importance into carrying it on and showing the ignorant people booing will not win. No room for racism.
— Alex Mann (@plastic_pearl) December 5, 2020
Basically, yeah. Pointless club, only known for acts of thuggery.
— The Scratching Shed 🏆 (@TSSLUFC) December 5, 2020
Let fans back in, and rather than been ecstatic to be back you boo this. Poor doo, really poor #MillwallFC #DCFC #EFL #AwayDays pic.twitter.com/oV41DPVdDQ
— Away Day Sleepers (@AwayDaySleepers) December 5, 2020
— TS🏴 (@Stringe60489570) December 5, 2020
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