Taking a knee before every football match has sort of become a tradition over the past years and every major football club(in England and across the globe) is more than happy to do it – to show their support for the anti-racism movement.
But, it looks like either the England fans haven’t gotten the memo or they are just not happy about their players taking the knee before games.
After jeers and boos were heard before the previous game, everyone thought these were a one-off thing but the England players were once again met with boos as they were taking the knee before their warmup friendly against Romania. This is clearly an unsettling thing for the England management as well as the players who take the field and right now many are fearing these vile antics could trickle into the Euros as well.
Surprisingly, a large section of the England fans chose to carry on this nuisance at Middlesbrough’s ground on Sunday as some English fans tried really hard to subdue these jeers with applause.
Even the England manager was shocked at the fans’ behaviour and he urged them to stand by their players.
NEWS | England players booed for taking a knee ahead of Romania friendlyhttps://t.co/UzJ1hiDkjb
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) June 6, 2021
Speaking ahead of the Romania friendly, Southgate said, as reported: “You have to put yourself in the shoes of an England player about to represent his country and because we are all trying to support the move for equality, the move for supporting our team-mates… some of the experiences they have been through in their lives.
“Some people decide to boo. I think those people should put themselves in the shoes of those young players and how that must feel.”
Clearly, these reports fell onto deaf ears as the England fans continued their agitations against the English players taking a knee.
This action from the fans has certainly caught the eye of a global audience and people from all across England as well as the world have come out to slam this behaviour.
Here’s how social media reacted:
https://twitter.com/toadmeister/status/1401547103218933767
Blows my mind that Marcus Rashford, who literally ensured children are being fed in some of the poorest parts of the north east, is wearing captain’s armband, leading players in taking the knee, and paying supporters are still booing his act.
— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) June 6, 2021
Fans aren’t booing the players taking the knee because they disagree with the cause of anti-racism they’re booing because the players are kneeling in support of a Marxist organisation like BLM.
— UK Independence Party (@UKIP) June 6, 2021
Gary Lineker on fans booing players who take the knee: pic.twitter.com/kSqsezTmzO
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 6, 2021
England fans booing their own players on the eve of a major tournament. The stupidity of it, on several different levels, is actually quite hard to believe.
— Oliver Holt (@OllieHolt22) June 6, 2021
Imagine paying money to watch a football match and booing your own players for a simple anti-racism gesture, and then singing sectarian songs.
(And then people defend your idiocy by saying that you just object to mixing sport and politics.)
— Carrie Dunn (@carriesparkle) June 6, 2021
Ian Wright puts it plainly: "The excuses they use as to why they're booing [the taking of the knee] are disingenuous."
— James Nalton (@JDNalton) June 6, 2021
If you boo England players taking the knee, you’re a racist.
If you condone the booing, you’re a racist.
It’s as simple as that.
— Prof Paul Bernal (@PaulbernalUK) June 6, 2021
If you didn’t applaud the England players taking the knee for ‘Black Lives Matter’… it doesn’t necessarily mean you are a racist.
If you booed them for taking the knee, the chances are… you most certainly are!!!
Don’t @ me.
Not interested. pic.twitter.com/d5wEhgWL7D— Reece Dinsdale 👀 (@reece_dinsdale) June 6, 2021
