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Fans video themselves booing outside stadium as Swansea and Reading players took the knee

Swansea City say that they are to investigate pre-match booing from individuals outside their stadium as players took the knee.

The Welsh club heard the noise from outside the Liberty Stadium before their Championship draw with Reading on Wednesday night.

Players from both teams made the gesture – as is customary at most clubs – in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

But as the their empty stadium went silent, the sound of boos and horns blowing outside could be heard, causing a surprise for those in the stands. You can see everything the fans did in the video above!

Swansea City have not published any kind of statement of the fans booing players taking the knee, however it is understood that they will look into what happened.

When asked about the incident after the game, Swansea head coach Steve Cooper said: “I can’t really make a comment on it. I heard some noises but I couldn’t tell what it was.

“Let’s find out exactly what it was, the reasoning and rationale behind it, and I will give you a view of it then.

“But in terms of taking the knee, we are a club that’s continuing to commit to it.

“We did have some discussions with the (club’s) leadership team when there were some topical things going a couple of weeks ago, when some fans returned to stadiums.

“We made a joint decision that we wanted to continue with taking the knee.”

BBC Sport report that boos and the sound of horns blowing were clearly audible while players took the knee and for the first couple of minutes of the game.

“I was aware, but I didn’t understand what was going on so I’ve got no comment,” said Reading manager Veljko Paunovic.

What managers said on the game

Swansea’s Steve Cooper: “I’m not disappointed with the lads or the performance. I thought we played some really good stuff, some of our passing, movement and chances we created were a consequence of how we want to play the game.

“Their goalkeeper was brilliant, particularly the save in the second half from [Ayew’s] diving header was top drawer, and he made a load of other really good saves. We’re frustrated but I’ve got no complaints with the players, but if we continue to play that way we’ll be alright.”

Reading’s Veljko Paunovic: “We can be happy with the few positives we had in this game. We’re never happy when we don’t win, but we had a good defensive performance from the whole team and our goalkeeper was exceptional – man of the match for me definitely.

“We were good on set-pieces and had good opportunities there. We were organised and showed our fighting spirit and the identity we always show. We were very brave and we were lucky, and we have to acknowledge they had very good opportunities. It was a very solid point, which helps us stay unbeaten and build good momentum towards our next game, which is very important for us.”

Both sides are next in action at 3pm on Saturday the 2nd of January. Swansea take on Watford at the Liberty Stadium, while Reading travel to the John Smith’s Stadium to face Huddersfield.

Swansea currently sit third in the Championship table, and Reading are three places below them in sixth.

Swansea’s fellow Championship club Millwall said they were “dismayed and saddened” after some fans booed players taking a knee at the start of their game against Derby earlier this month.

There have also been incidents at Colchester United and at Cambridge United.

There was reacted after seeing fans video themselves booing outside stadium as Swansea and Reading players took the knee…

@KieranCraig2016: Anti Black Lives Matter people. Eject them all. Pricks like that don’t support the club end of. Been videos of shit protests in the past of it

@wardiaz85: All 8 of them have turned up again

@Samtheswn: Idiots

@swanseajamie: @SwansOfficial need to get them removed from private property. Police can assist if they refuse. They’re mostly not even Jacks.

@PatrioticTalk14: Good to see the loyal British people standing up for us at Swansea this evening

@james_felton1: Embarrassing. A full Liberty stadium would applaud and appreciate anti-racist gestures

@california6182: I’m afraid this will happen more once the stadiums are full again. Fans will probably sing over the moment.

@matthewstiff123: Stop taking the knee simple as that

@HenryRWilliams: Why do they need to investigate? That’s not criminal it’s voicing an opinion.

@fergy1999: People are not booing because black lives dont matter..they’re booing because they’re sick of hearing about a marxist cult….

@AFC9999: If the players can show an opinion by kneeling, why can’t the paying supporter (when allowed in) show an opinion ?

@mumblesboi87: Disgusting racists. All 8 of you are not welcome and should hang your head in shame

@grimm_f_f: Our club will keep taking the knee until idiots like you and these morons no longer exist to blight our society. #BLM

Jason Dix: Incoming stadium ban for all 8 of them haha how stupid can you be

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