Millwall fans booing reminded us of size of task in racism fight – but we must keep going
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UP until Saturday, there had been plenty of genuine, well-meaning debate over whether footballers should still be taking the knee.
To have been at Villa Park in June, for the Premier League’s restart, when this action was first taken at an English football ground, was to experience an unmistakably significant moment.
The impact was powerful and the message clear — unity against racial discrimination. Yet when does such a show of solidarity, repeated over months, lose its meaning?
When does taking the knee become a box-ticking gesture, no more important than another social-media hashtag?
Was it self-defeating for the BBC to continue showing players taking the knee before the highlights of each Premier League match?
MILLWALL’S returning fans booed their own players as they took a knee before kick-off.
The Den welcomed back 2,000 supporters for the first time since the start of the pandemic for their 1-0 defeat to Derby.
Millwall’s own black star, Mahlon Romeo, declared: “Today’s game has become irrelevant.
“The fans have been let back in — which the whole team was looking forward to — but in society there is a problem. That is racism.
“The fans today have disrespected not just me, but the football club.
“What they have done is booed and condemned a peaceful gesture which was put in place to highlight, combat and stop any discriminatory behaviour.
“It offended me, the players and everyone who works for this club.
“Don’t think you come to this ground and spread hatred. I feel really low — probably the lowest I’ve felt in my time at this club.”
Players and officials have been taking a knee since June to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
The FA released a statement appearing to condemn the incident shortly after the full-time whistle.
It read: “The FA supports all players and staff that wish to take a stand against discrimination in a respectful manner, which includes taking of the knee, and strongly condemns the behaviours of any spectators that actively voice their opposition to such activities.”
And organisation Kick it Out, added: “We are saddened by the behaviour of fans booing the players taking the knee at Millwall.
“What this demonstrates is that platers are right to continue standing up to discrimination, whether that is through taking the knee or speaking out.
“The fight for racial equality continues and we will continue to work closely with clubs across the country to tackle discrimination in all its forms.
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