So they wont be taking the knee at the Den tommorow night??
Well as i see it, the Millwall fans got thier piont across and got thier club to listen.
Well done to them. To me it looks like they actually came out on top with this one.
Just shows fans still do have power to change things, more fans just need to have bit more backbone and "balls".
I am happy with the outcome & if those who would jeer feel that they have made their 'piont', great.
Although it is the first time it has been properly explained to me, that the point of booing all along was: that they are very happy that players make A gesture... Just not THAT specific gesture...(?)
Daft thing is that QPR weren't previously going to make ANY gesture, having already decided THAT gesture is passe'...!
But, they have now been humbled into reconsidering by the noble Denizens & some of their players are even reviewing a revival of the original gesture. Evidence indeed that fans with backbone & balls can make a difference.
My objection was always to booing the players & the whole effort to discredit it by association. Booing your own players before kick-off is simply not in the British tradition of tolerance, politeness & respect and reflects badly on those who indulge in it.
In future, I suggest as an acceptable alternative, a dignified silence, possibly accompanied by fans turning their back on the gesture, now THAT is a protest...!
""eradicating all types of prejudiced behaviour, encouraging attitudinal changes and creating unity. Players often receive widespread criticism and negativity for merely doing their jobs" - what a load of rubbish the EFL spout! their mere job is to play football NOT play politics. Or is it ok for a player to wear a shirt under his football shirt with a political message and raise the outer shirt up so we can read it? Now is it ok if the skin colour of the player aligns with the BLM political movement? is pink? yellow? white? purple? FFS NO POLITICS IN FOOTBALL (yeah that's none no BLM or any other NONE). I would not go to the theatre and expect to be dictated to by some political statement nor the cinema or a concert so why football?
Last Edit: Dec 8, 2020 11:31:12 GMT by peespottage
The EFL statement is bound to 'force' all EFL clubs to take the knee now when they re-start and I am expecting it to take place on Saturday Crawley v Barrow, but (and we'll now never know) I do wonder had Millwall fans not publicised events whether we would have seen all EFL clubs take to the knee. In a way the action of the Millwal fans has perhaps backfired for them?
"It was so good to welcome our fans back into our stadium on Saturday......
............However, the game is not being talked about for all of the things I mentioned above but because of the ridiculous actions of a few who decided to boo our players whilst they took the knee before kick- off.
Our club supports the players and their choice to take the knee for a few seconds before every game.
Callum Harriot described the purpose of the gesture perfectly to me explaining that taking the knee dates back to early civil rights movements as a way of silently showing solidarity in support of political inequalities suffered by oppressed communities.
Those that take the knee want to highlight that all lives should be valued and should not be treated inhumanely or inferior to others just because of their race.
It is undeniable that black and other ethnic minority people are still the victims of racism, and the black footballers and staff at Colchester United feel that they are in a position of privilege that has been fought for through the blood and sweat of their ancestors.
A position that in 2020 the average black person is still not afforded.
Those taking the knee, and supporting the taking of the knee, not only shows their willingness to support the drive to eradicate racial oppression but force it to be a talking point even when it’s uncomfortable.
Undeniably, taking the knee is a fundamental catalyst in pushing the conversation and thus the necessary changes forward.
I’m sure the vast majority of Colchester United fans are supportive and want to play their part in showing they back the actions of our players.
Maybe those that booed on Saturday might now understand what this gesture means to our club and will at the very least remain silent during future games whilst the players continue to take the knee before each kick-off.
Alternatively, they should just stay away from our club because anyone that still wants to boo now that I have explained the purpose and importance of the taking of the knee is not welcome at our club.
I will be happy to refund anyone for the remaining value of their season permit if that is the reason they feel they can no longer attend our games.
It would be very disappointing if anyone does decide to boo again. Therefore, going forward I would like to make the actions of those fans who do boo the taking of the knee completely irrelevant.
For every game where the players choose to take the knee, I would like all of our fans to join me in applauding this gesture to ensure our players know we fully support them.
Damo thanks for posting Colchester's view on this. To be honest when I read "political" I lost interest reading further. This is the point - its political and has no place in football I'm disinterested bored, annoyed and getting p1ssed off with the knee taking. WTF do players need to show ""solidarity" for kneeling before ko? They do not - they all wear the same shirt and are part of a team. As for Colchester reaction to fans being unwelcome, that is clearly politics forced upon them and there are many millions that oppose the BLM politics rants and actually detest their movement and the demos theyve not socially distanced at and so on. The clap along with (clearly fans taking the knee is ridiculous and unsafe) is a way they are forcing fans to not boo. Of course you can stand still and not clap in same way a minutes applause for someone remembered can be ignored - but what will Colchester do if a fan boo's eject them? But its ok to Boo the lay if its in the "Boring Arsenal" approach etc.? Madness. KEEP ALL POLITICS OUT OF FOOTBALL AND NO MORE KNEE TAKING.
And before someone else mentions it - yeah I doubt that will be socially distant (guess that is the whole point) but then the game isn't socially distant. Looks like the football authorities are desperately trying to avoid a backlash and find a solution acceptable to many that oppose taking the knee.