Euro 2020: English FA implores fans not to boo players who 'take a knee'

The Football Association has issued a statement asking England fans to respect the right of players to "take a knee" as a protest against racial injustice.

Published : Jun 13, 2021 11:10 IST , LONDON

England players were booed by some fans before two recent friendlies when they knelt - a protest borrowed from American NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and popularised by the Black Lives Matter movement.
England players were booed by some fans before two recent friendlies when they knelt - a protest borrowed from American NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and popularised by the Black Lives Matter movement.
lightbox-info

England players were booed by some fans before two recent friendlies when they knelt - a protest borrowed from American NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and popularised by the Black Lives Matter movement.

The Football Association (FA) has issued a statement asking England fans to respect the right of players to "take a knee" as a protest against racial injustice, and not boo them before matches at the European Championship.

England players were booed by some fans before two recent friendlies when they knelt - a protest borrowed from American NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and popularised by the Black Lives Matter movement.

RELATED|

"We encourage those that oppose this action to reflect on the message you are sending to the players you are supporting," the FA said ahead of England's Euro 2020 opening match against Croatia at Wembley on Sunday.

"Please respect their wishes and remember that we should all be united in the fight to tackle discrimination. Together. They will do their best for you. Please do your best for them," it added.

England manager Gareth Southgate, who has participated in the gesture on the touchline, expressed his hope that the nation would unite behind the team during the tournament .

Our-players-are-role-models-And-beyond-the-confines-of-the-pitch-we-must-recognise-the-impact-they-can-have-on-society-We-must-give-them-the-confidence-to-stand-up-for-their-teammates-and-the-things-that-matterpng
 

Critics of the protest say it improperly politicises sport and they dislike the gesture's links to the organised element of Black Lives Matter, which some consider a far-left movement imported from the United States.

"Fans understand perfectly well ... they are there to watch a football match, not to be lectured on morality," said Brendan Clarke-Smith, a member of Parliament for the ruling Conservative Party.

RELATED|

The FA also released an emotional plea for fans to unite behind the players in a video on social media.

 

"This is personally important to the players and the values the team collectively represents," the FA statement continued.

"It is not new, and English football has made it very clear that it does not view this as being aligned to a political organisation or ideology.

"There can be no doubt as to why the players are taking the knee and what it represents in a footballing context," it added.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday he thought it was "totally wrong" to boo the England team.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment