MILLWALL’S players donned Kick It Out logos on their shirts as fans applauded players taking a knee.
The Lions staged an alternative anti-racism protest before Tuesday’s London derby with QPR after fans shamefully booed the gesture last weekend.
All eyes were on Millwall tonight as they responded to the booing shame of the weekendCredit: PA:Press Association
Most QPR players took the knee aswell at the start of the gameCredit: Sky Sports
Millwall star Mahlon Romeo spoke of his hurt at what happened at the weekend – he stood with a raised fist before tonight’s gameCredit: PA:Press Association
Players instead were directed to stand arm-in-arm in a ‘show of solidarity for football’s fight against discrimination’.
The teams also held aloft a banner calling for an end to all forms of discrimination and — for one game only — the Lions replaces their sponsors with the Kick It Out logo.
The club’s usual shirt sponsor, Huski Chocolate’ will donate the money usually afforded to this to Kick It Out.
No Millwall players took a knee before kick off after discussions with the club.
However, some QPR stars chose to, and they were largely applauded by fans inside the ground.
Millwall and QPR players held up a banner against racismCredit: Sky Sports
Millwall fans clapped the teams coming together against racismCredit: Sky Sports
This letter has not gone down well in some quarters, with the last two lines particularly slammed
Fans visiting the London stadium tonight were also given a letter that highlighted how important an end to discrimination is in the game.
But the last couple of lines of the letter were slammed by Sky Sports pundits Don Goodman and Keith Andrews.
It read: “The eyes of the world are on this football club tonight – your coub – and they want us to fail.
“Together as one, we will not let that happen.”
Goodman said: “I nearly fell of this chair. I wanted to feel sorry for them, but I think they have scored a PR own goal.
“I like the idea, but that last little bit, I think it’s a silly thing for a football club to put out in an official capacity.
“Where is that coming from? I don’t think it is going to help anybody.”
Ilias Chair celebrates with Bright Osayi-Samuel by taking a knee after scoring in the second halfCredit: Getty Images
Andrews added: “What is all that about? That arrives ten minutes before the two of us are going on air, and we are blown away.
“It’s completely changed my stance because I was trying to see it from the football club’s point of view, the perspective of them, what can they control.
“They can control a statement they put out, a letter to the fans.
“That’s bamboozled me, it’s a disgrace. We don’t want them to fail, we want it to be eradicated.”
The club made headlines for all the wrong reasons at the weekend when some of their fans booed players taking the knee before the game against Derby.
This is the shirt the Millwall players wore against QPRCredit: Millwall FC
The FA have since launched an investigation in the aftermath of the shocking scenes.
Millwall’s Commercial Director Stuart Lock told the club website: “It has been a challenging few days but we must – and have – rally together and unite for the good of the club and society.
“I would like to thank Huski Chocolate for their vital assistance towards our aims and initiatives and look forward to continuing our relationship for years to come.”
Some fans booed when Millwall’s players took the knee to highlight racial discrimination last weekendCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Den welcomed back 2,000 supporters for the first time since the start of the pandemic for their 1-0 defeat to Wayne Rooney’s Derby.
But they sparked an anti-discrimination row after their vocal protest from the stands.
As the players got down on one knee, with Derby’s Colin Kazim-Richards instead standing and raising his fist – a symbol of solidarity – boos echoed around the stadium.
The mindless actions of those fans were blasted by Rooney who called for the issue to be ‘looked at and addressing’.
Kazim-Richards branded the jeering an ‘absolute disgrace’ and Millwall’s own black star, Mahlon Romeo, declared: “Today’s game has become irrelevant.”
Millwall fans boo their own players on first game back at The Den after they take knee in anti-discrimination row
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
