Millwall fans APPLAUD as players link arms carrying anti-racism banner before some take the knee
Millwall fans APPLAUD as players link arms carrying anti-racism banner before some take the knee after controversy over BOOS before Saturday’s match – but did stadium drown out dissent with loud music?
- QPR players took the knee and the Millwall side linked arms at tonight’s Championship clash at The Den
- Tonight’s match in South London stadium is Millwall’s first since Saturday after players took the knee
- Fans had booed Millwall but said they were taking aim at ‘extreme political views’ of the BLM movement
QPR players all took the knee and the Millwall side linked arms ahead of tonight’s game after fans had booed footballers for associating with the ‘extreme’ Black Lives Matter group on Saturday.
Millwall players held an anti-racism banner that said ‘inequality’ with the ‘in’ crossed out on the halfway line in The Den in South London, in a nod to the club’s new United for Change initiative.
The QPR side then took the knee in a ‘show of solidarity’, just days after crowds berated players at Millwall’s Derby fixture for dropping to the ground ahead of kick-off.
Football fans applauded the anti-racist display, and there have been no reports of dissent – though any boos would have been drowned out by loud music which was being blasted by the venue.
Players were braced for repeated hostility after supporters defended the actions of Saturday’s hecklers, who were supposedly lashing out at the ‘extreme political views’ of the BLM movement.
The act of taking the knee is now closely associated with BLM, which has been accused of straying beyond its anti-racism origins and becoming a brazen Left-wing political organisation.
BLM, which came to global prominence after George Floyd’s death, has called for the abolition of the police and the capitalist system which has underpinned Western society since 1945.
Spectators entering the stadium tonight received a letter from Millwall which asked them to respect ‘those opposition players taking the knee’ – calling it ‘their right to do so’.
Millwall players hold up a ‘United for Change’ banner before the match at The Den
QPR players linked arms with their rivals and took the knee, just days after crowds berated players in Millwall’s Derby fixture for dropping to the ground ahead of kick-off
Millwall’s Mahlon Romeo raises his fist in the air prior to kick-off during the Sky Bet Championship match at The Den, London
QPR players kneel before the match while a large TV screen says ‘Inequality, United for Change’
Millwall players held an anti-racism banner that said ‘inequality’ with the ‘in’ crossed out on the halfway line at The Den in South London
The club called tonight’s game ‘one of the most important days in Millwall’s history’, adding: ‘Last night the club released a statement announcing its new United for Change initiative.
‘Lions fans from all over the world were unanimous in their support. It is your duty and responsibility as a member of the crowd tonight to continue that superb backing.
‘Before kick-off, our players and those from QPR, will link arms in a show of unity and togetherness towards the fight against discrimination. We know that the crowd, as has always been the case, will be fully supportive of that gesture.
‘As also was made clear last night, we ask that those opposition players taking the knee are respected, as it is their right to do so.
‘The eyes of the world are on this football club tonight – your club – and they want us to fail. Together as one, we will not let that happen.’
Millwall had previously said it was ‘dismayed and saddened’ by last weekend’s behaviour and warned anybody found guilty of racial abuse would be handed a lifetime ban.
A statement from the Millwall Supporters’ Club on Sunday said ‘We fervently believe that the motives of those behind the booing were not racist.’
It added: ‘Anyone who believes it was a racist act should read the views of those who booed and see they were doing it in reaction to the war memorials and statues of (Winston) Churchill defaced by the BLM organisation and the extreme political views they hold and for which ‘taking the knee’ is associated with.’
A senior source at Millwall had told Sky Sports News that some of Millwall’s staff and players were ‘left in tears’ by the hecklers and the condemnation that followed.
Cabinet minister George Eustice waded into the row on Sunday, calling Black Lives Matter ‘actually a political movement that is different to what most of us believe in, which is standing up for racial equality’.
He told Sky News: ‘My personal view is that Black Lives Matter, capital B, L and M, is actually a political movement that is different to what most of us believe in, which is standing up for racial equality.
‘Each individual can take their own choices about how they reflect this. I know a number of people feel quite strongly and have taken that approach.’
Football players had privately discussed walking off the pitch if their pre-game gestures are booed, sources told Sportsmail.
Watford captain Troy Deeney publicly said he would have no issue abandoning the match if faced with racism.
He told talkSport: ‘When they boo, I’ll still be there. But if it gets to that line of racial things being said to me or my players, we’ve already had a conversation about what happens. We walk, simple.’
The club said in a statement: ‘Players from Millwall and Queens Park Rangers will stand arm-in-arm with each other in a show of solidarity for football’s fight against discrimination ahead of kick-off at The Den on Tuesday night.’
It added: ‘Millwall believe that this gesture, which the club hopes to repeat with other visiting teams in the coming weeks and months, will help to unify people throughout society in the battle to root out all forms of discrimination.
‘QPR have informed Millwall that a selection of their players wish to take the knee as a way of showing their support for anti-discrimination efforts – a gesture which the club respects and it firmly asks all those in attendance to do likewise.’
Millwall also said they had started an ‘audit of board members, staff, volunteers and participants as part of an ongoing commitment towards equality, diversity and inclusion’.
The club added that a ‘new widespread and multi-faceted anti-discrimination strategy’ would include ‘the formation of an equality, diversity and inclusion code of practice to cover departments throughout the club’s activities and recruitment processes.’
QPR, which stopped taking the knee in September amid concerns the action had become ‘diluted’, also released a statement ahead of the game.
It comes after Millwall fans booed players taking the knee before their game against Derby
The FA have now launched an investigation into what happened at the Den on the weekend
The BLM movement, which has snowballed in support in the wake of George Floyd’s death, has been accused of straying beyond its anti-racism origins and becoming a brazen left-wing organisation. Pictured: Protesters in Notting Hill in west London on August 30
Chief executive Lee Hoos said: ‘We have always been at the forefront of encouraging equality and diversity while tackling discrimination in all its forms. Our initial approach to this particular situation was for all our players to take the knee in a show of solidarity.
‘However, following a series of discussions with Millwall, as well as internal conversations involving myself, director of football Les Ferdinand, manager Mark Warburton and the entire first team squad, it was agreed that standing shoulder to shoulder with our opposition players would be a more powerful response.
‘On top of this, some of our players wish to take the knee and we fully support this action.’
A statement from the FA earlier on Monday said: ‘The FA can confirm that investigations are under way into crowd-related incidents at both The Den and JobServe Community Stadium on Saturday 5 December 2020.
‘Observations have been sought from all of the relevant parties and they will have until Thursday 10 December 2020 to provide their respective responses.’
PSG and Istanbul Basaksehir players WALK OFF during first half of Champions League clash amid allegations of racism towards Turkish side’s assistant manager by Romanian fourth official – with match in Paris set to resume without him
The Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir descended into chaos on Tuesday night after both sets of players walked off amid allegations of racism by fourth official Sebastian Coltescu.
The Group H encounter was suspended midway through the first half after an incident on the touchline involving Pierre Webo, Basaksehir’s assistant manager.
Webo was sent off and then accused Coltescu of racism with footage from the incident appearing to show somebody say ‘n****’ when trying to identify the Cameroonian coach to the referee.
PSG and Istanbul Basaksehir players walked off as their match was suspended on Tuesday
Pierre Webo (R), Basaksehir’s assistant manager, was allegedly the victim of racial abuse
Footage from the incident appears to show somebody say ‘n****’ when trying to identify Webo
Fourth official Sebastian Coltescu was accused of making the racist remark on the touchline
Webo was furious on the touchline and had to be restrained by other members of the coaching staff.
He was shown a straight red card in the 16th minute and the players and staff from the Turkish side left the pitch after about 10 minutes of discussions with referee Ovidiu Hategan.
According to reports the match was due to restart at 10pm local time but PSG players were left waiting for the Turkish side in the tunnel.
It is claimed the Basaksehir players are refusing to restart if Coltescu continues to participate in the match as a VAR official.
A new fourth official on the touchline would require Coltescu to continue as a VAR with UEFA rules demanding two officials be in the video review area. However, there is nobody else to fulfil the role.
According to RMC, Ba and Marquinhos planned for both teams to walk out onto the pitch, hand in hand. But a number of Basaksehir players were against the idea, with the game increasingly likely to be postponed.
Former Chelsea and Newcastle striker Demba Ba was at the forefront of the Turkish side’s protests before they left the pitch, demanding an explanation from Coltescu for his language.
Ba charged in the direction of Coltescu to question why he had used the phrase to identify Webo.
He said: ‘You never say ‘this white guy’, you say ‘this guy’, so why when you’re mentioning him… listen to me… why when you mention a black guy, why do you say ‘this black guy’.’
Former Chelsea and Newcastle striker Demba Ba was left furious and confronted the officials
Both sets of players left the pitch and returned to the dressing room in a united protest
Within minutes of the incident, Basaksehir posted a picture of UEFA’s ‘No To Racism’ campaign
The Parc des Princes sits empty with both sets of players returning to the dressing room
PSG players followed them down the tunnel with the game at Parc des Princes suspended at 0-0.
Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Marquinhos were all seen on the touchline in discussion with Coltescu.
Basaksehir coach Okan Buruk said ‘you are racist’ to Coltescu.
Within minutes of the incident, Basaksehir’s Twitter feed posted a picture of UEFA’s ‘No To Racism’ campaign.
Speaking during BT Sport’s Champions League coverage, Rio Ferdinand said: ‘We are at a disturbing tipping point.
‘Millwall, now this, in the same week, not a week goes by without an incident involving race, something needs to be done, the powers that be need to make a stand.
‘Showing unity [by the players] is a start, but it cannot be left to players.’
Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha told French station RMC: ‘What upsets me that the players are the (only) ones to take a stand.
‘Uefa didn’t… Now Uefa are making ultimatums about restarting the match… it’s like they’re in denial… there’s no sign they are ever going to take this problem seriously.’
