MILLWALL’S returning fans booed their own players as they took a knee before kick-off.
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.
Millwall players take a knee before kick-off against DerbyCredit: Getty Images
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 raising his fist – a symbol of solidarity – boos echoed around the stadium.
Interim Rams boss Rooney said: “It’s a sad thing to happen, a shame. No one condones that behaviour.
“It needs looking at and addressing. I heard it and was very surprised. Everyone at Derby has backed taking the knee and will continue to do so.
“There has been great progress in that campaign and to hear that today is upsetting for a lot of people.”
Derby’s black striker Kazim-Richards branded the jeering an “absolute disgrace”.
He added: “I will say it every single damn time, this is why I stand and stand proud.”
Millwall’s own black star, Mahlon Romeo, declared: “Today’s game has become irrelevant.
“The fans have been let back in — which the whole team was looking forward to — but in society there is a problem. That is racism.
“The fans today have disrespected not just me, but the football club.
“What they have done is booed and condemned a peaceful gesture which was put in place to highlight, combat and stop any discriminatory behaviour.
“It offended me, the players and everyone who works for this club.
“Don’t think you come to this ground and spread hatred. I feel really low — probably the lowest I’ve felt in my time at this club.”
Players and officials have been taking a knee since June to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
The FA released a statement appearing to condemn the incident shortly after the full-time whistle.
It read: “The FA supports all players and staff that wish to take a stand against discrimination in a respectful manner, which includes taking of the knee, and strongly condemns the behaviours of any spectators that actively voice their opposition to such activities.”
And organisation Kick it Out, added: “We are saddened by the behaviour of fans booing the players taking the knee at Millwall.
“What this demonstrates is that platers are right to continue standing up to discrimination, whether that is through taking the knee or speaking out.
“The fight for racial equality continues and we will continue to work closely with clubs across the country to tackle discrimination in all its forms.
“We urge the players to continue using their platforms and their voices to support this fight.
“We applaud the players of Millwall and Derby for taking a stand and defying the hate shown by some fans today.”
According to the Atheltic, the Derby players held a meeting at half time and where they decided to use their anger at the boos as motivation to win the game.
The Rams then moved off the foot of the table with a goal from Jason Knight in the 69th minute.
There were fears before the match that Millwall fans would boo the anti-racism message.
Ahead of the clash manager Gary Rowett and the players released a statement that read: “We are fully supportive of the efforts in ridding the sport, and society, of all forms of discrimination.
“It is our duty to reinforce the positive messaging.
“Taking the knee, for us, is in no way representative of any agreement with political messaging or ideology.
“It is purely about tackling discrimination.”
Their actions have been greeted with criticism with videos of the incident doing the rounds on social media.
Former West Ham winger Trevor Sinclair said: “Reality is Millwall fans booing players taking a knee doesn’t surprise many!!!”
Ex-Man City defender Micah Richards added on the BBC: “It is just disheartening. How do these fans get allocated to the games?”
Dion Dublin, who played on loan at Millwall, said on BBC’s Final Score: “They don’t agree with taking the knee, which means they are racist. They don’t agree with Black Lives Matter; that says they are racist to me.
“It says to me that a minority of Millwall fans are spoiling it for a club that is going in the right direction with a tag they have had for years and years and they are trying to eradicate it.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
