FA probes booing of players taking a knee
field, but I am a sophomore in college.”
Juggling track and field and academics has forced the Kingston College past student to grow up quickly and after a rocky start, he is now on the path he wants to be.
“College is different, especially with academics, because you have to stay up to standard. My first semester was pretty difficult because of the transition, the weather, it gets cold and you don’t want to go to classes, so it was hard getting those things together. In my second semester I had a 3.2 GPA with [doing] track and field, I got an award for that.
“I’m getting there, but you have to transition; your mind has to be focused, you have to be prepared. You have to be mature now, because it’s not a baby world or teenage world now, it’s the adult world, so it’s different, but it has been a great experience.”
Rhoden is being heavily scouted as a result of his first-year performances and may switch schools as early as January.
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — the football Association announced yesterday that it is investigating following the booing of players taking a knee at two english football League games at the weekend.
A number of fans at the match in the second-tier Championship between Millwall and Derby, and at Colchester’s League Two home clash with Grimsby booed the players’ anti-racism gesture before kick-off.
“The FA can confirm that investigations are under way into crowd-related incidents at both The Den and Jobserve Community Stadium on Saturday, 5 December 2020,” English football’s governing body said in a statement.
“Observations have been sought from all of the relevant parties and they will have until Thursday, 10 December 2020 to provide their respective responses.”
The booing from Millwall fans led interim Derby boss Wayne Rooney to condemn their “disgraceful and mindless behaviour”.
And Colchester owner Robbie Cowling, whose side play in the fourth tier, has told supporters who want to boo players taking a knee they are not welcome at the club.
“Those taking the knee, and supporting the taking of the knee, not only show their willingness to support the drive to eradicate racial oppression but force it to be a talking point even when it’s uncomfortable,” he said.
The Professional Footballers’ Association described the booing as “a sad indictment of the lack of understanding and empathy for the players’ fight against racism and discrimination”.
It urged Millwall to “act swiftly to identify the section of the crowd who booed the players”.
Watford Captain Troy Deeney told Talksport radio that the Hornets would ignore any booing of taking a knee at Millwall when they visit the Den on December 29, but admitted his players would walk off if subjected to any racist abuse.
Asked what Watford would do if Millwall fans booed taking a knee, Deeney said: “When they boo? I’ll still be there.
“But if we get to that line of racial things being said to me or my players, we’ve already had a conversation about what will happen. We walk. Simple. We’re not here to be racially abused. We’re here to play football and entertain.”