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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.
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
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.
Ironicman · 56-60, M
Personally, I think social political/political statements on the pitch should be banned. The game must continue to fight equality and racism as they do but keep it off the pitch. It's become diluted and some players do it and have no idea what the knee stands for. If it continues maybe the teams will mimmick a person gambling on a slot machine and falling to their knees, hand grasping head in desperation.
Shame on the premiership generally and ITV (for Euro 2020) in continuing to advertise betting. In doing so they do nothing to prevent gambling-related harms. Too much money and greed in football and by allowing pitch politics only serves to further ruin what was once a beautiful game.
Ironicman · 56-60, M
@InOtterWords I agree but with the knee at Prem or international level the booing is from people who are either racist, misguided, or have no idea what the players are kneeling for or strongly oppose politically what the BLM stand for. I think the booing is awful, especially if the match is being watched by young children who may not understand what is happening. I think players should leave politics off the pitch and agree there is so much more to do off the pitch, 9n line and at stadiums so that players and spectators are not exposed to racism in any shape or form.
LordShadowfire · 46-50
@Ironicman What I'm hearing you say is you'd like to ignore racism for a while and enjoy your little game.
Ironicman · 56-60, M
@LordShadowfire not at all, if only you knew
Nomad7 · 22-25, M
It's probably the only thing I appreciate about that country. Unfortunately, it's not a country specific FA thing, it's a country specific thing

When Arsenal were away to Slavia Prague in the Europa League last season, all Arsenal players took the knee, while Slavia's players just stood there and looked at them.

I'm glad England is not letting the world forget that even black lives matter, rather than just some short-lived trend that dies out after a year. And it's a shame nobody's supporting them in this- not even France- 70% of their squad is black
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@Nomad7 In another another game of the EUROPA league, a Prague defender called a rangers player a 'f***ing monkey'. He got suspended but only for about ten matches. If I did that at work, I would lose my job and rightly so.

I think racism is worse in other countries but it still exists here. I remember hearing racist chanting in the 90s at Burnley and some of these attitudes still exist.
Entwistle · 56-60, M
It's a good thing to do. I do think it should be down to the individual players choice though.
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@Entwistle I agree. Zaha says he doesn't want to do it and that is fine. However, if England players are taking the knee and say its a protest against racism and people are booing them (after the given reasons).

Then that is not on for me.
Entwistle · 56-60, M
@Burnley123 People that boo are idiots imho. Fuck em.
nuddie · 61-69, M
It’s not the stand against racism they are booing it’s against the BLM but the media cannot realise that
RodionRomanovitch · 56-60, M
@nuddie But BLM [b]are[/b] making a stand against racism. How do you not realise that ?
Nyloncapes · 61-69, M
Burnley, how many do you do it because they feel pressured , if they don’t then there mentioned in papers , tv,media, just look at the papers and news all about teams and players who take or don’t take the knee,
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@Nyloncapes Wilfred Zaha decided not to because he doesn't feel it's useful and that is his choice. Fair enough.

However, if the England team has collectively decided to do so then we should also respect that. Jordan Henderson has also publically come out in support. He didn't need to but he clearly agrees with the stance.
Nyloncapes · 61-69, M
@Burnley123 then Southgate and players should respect the boos, people associate taking the knee for the BLM movement, sky advertised it every time, these people had no problem with kick it out racism clapped and supported it, and do not want racism in football, now these same people are being classed as racists, and part of the problem , get out and talk to the fans,
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@Nyloncapes Southgate and the players have communicated the reasons why in a lot of detail.
Nyloncapes · 61-69, M
Why Scotland only doing it in the England game dont make sense to me, if they do it in England game why don’t they feel the same in the other games
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@Nyloncapes It's their choice and it's not something they should have to justify. Maybe because they have fewer black players or because they don't think racism is as big an issue in Scotland. Whatever reason is OK. They shouldn't feel obliged to do it.

The issue for me is that if players take the knee and say it's an anti-racist protest, then well people who boo them are booing an anti-racist protest.
RodionRomanovitch · 56-60, M
England fans have always been a handicap to their team. This type of moronic behaviour continues that tradition.
I have such strong feelings about this i just do not know where to begin.

Did you know that my dad didn't take me or my brother to football games when we were kids because of the racist abuse he got? That fear still lives in him and now when I take my kids he wants me to call him as soon as I'm home so he knows we are safe .

England is my country and I love her but racism is still strong here. Just last week you had England players being booed for taking the knee, mps defending a cricketer suspended for racist and misogynistic tweets, racist abuse of a 2 day old baby by a journalist and a barrister.

All those booing are just demonstrating why the players feel the need to take the knee, just glad those applauding them are louder, gives me hope
LordShadowfire · 46-50
Nice! It's going international!
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@LordShadowfire It has been for some time in fact. Obviously, thanks to Colin Kaepernick.

 
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