I support England players taking the knee.

It's unfortunate that a minority of football fans have booed the national team doing this at recent games. Gareth Southgate, the (white), England coach has come out in support of his players in an open letter to fans:

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/dear-england-gareth-southgate-euros-soccer

All the other England players are completely on board. We live in a multi-racial country and the national team of our dominant sport is especially so. If the England players want to take the knee, then people should support them. For me, as a white football fan, it's about listening and showing respect to the experiences that minority people go through.

If people boo players who take a stand against racism, then that is showing a lack of respect.

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Gangstress · 41-45, F

I heard Scotland have released a statement and will continue as well.

The whole point of taking the knee has turned on itself. They've made it political were most have done it because of the actual Stance it makes. That's the sad outcome of it

I'm glad they are

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@Gangstress In the broadest possible sense, it is political. I don't mean in terms of party politics but in terms of society generally etc.

Its intended as an inclusive gesture and to stand up against racism. The people against it fall into two camps: The people who don't understand and the people who are against it. Hopefully, Southgate's stance will help more people to understand it.

Nomad7 · 22-25, M

@Burnley123 Absolutely, people will see that if even a manager as inept as Southgate can see the point of this, there must be something to it

RodionRomanovitch · 56-60, M

@Gangstress 'I heard Scotland have released a statement and will continue as well.'

I thought they had said that they wouldn't ?

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@Nomad7 LOL. I don't think Southgate is inept. I have some issues with his decisions but he gets a lot right that previous England managers didn't. I don't know if you remember Erikson and McClaren playing Lampard and Gerrard in the same midfield or Roy Hodgson playing Rooney on the left...

Anyway, we know this is not the point. On this issue, Southgate is excellent.

Gangstress · 41-45, F

@RodionRomanovitch released today

RodionRomanovitch · 56-60, M

@Gangstress That's only for the England game though.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@RodionRomanovitch It's fair enough. I think it has to come from the players, not done because it is expected. They are doing it in solidarity with the England players.

Some players, like Zaha of Crystal Palace, have decided not to take the knee because they don't feel it's an effective form of protest. It's his choice and deciding not to take the knee does not mean you are against BLM.

The difference is that when a group of players decides to take the knee and it gets booed by fans, then people are taking a [i]specific [/i]stance against the movement. That is a position against anti-racism.

RodionRomanovitch · 56-60, M

@Burnley123 And that's what I was saying in my reply. Do England fans not see that all they are doing is demotivating their own players ?

I actually happen to think it has probably gone on too long now but fukin 'ell , booing your own players before a game. That's just idiotic.