FA to investigate booing by fans at Den, Colchester
THE Football Association are investigating Millwall and Colchester United after fans were heard booing players for taking the knee in support of Black Lives Matter this weekend.
Derby County’s game at the Den was marred when a number of Millwall supporters jeered the players for taking a knee and the fans’ actions have been condemned by the FA and Kick It Out.
At Colchester, fans were also heard jeering as players took the knee ahead of kick-off for their League Two clash against Grimsby Town.
Interim Derby boss Wayne Rooney released a statement yesterday in which he hit out at the “disgraceful” behaviour from Millwall fans after watching his side win the Championship clash 1-0.
Millwall also released a statement to say they were “saddened and dismayed by the events” while Colchester chairman Robbie Cowling warned supporters who booed players taking the knee would not be welcome at the Jobserve Stadium.
Now the FA have released a statement to say they are investigating the matter.
“The FA can confirm that investigations are underway into crowd-related incidents at both The Den and JobServe Community Stadium on Saturday 5 December 2020,” they said.
“Observations have been sought from all of the relevant parties and they will have until Thursday December 10, 2020 to provide their respective responses.”
Meanwhile, Watford striker Troy Deeney has hit out at Millwall fans who booed on Saturday.
Speaking on TalkSport, with whom he is a regular guest, Deeney said: “I’m not massively shocked. I don’t want to put this on all the Millwall fans or the club.
“There’s a certain amount of people that found a reason to boo. They’ll have their reasons for that. I don’t want to get into that because I think we’re giving them too much energy to be honest.
“There’s a reason people like myself and others are advocating for equality. This is why.”
Deeney stressed it was important that players continued to take the knee when fans return to stadiums.
“In April time, in a Premier League meeting, we said this has to be done when fans are back,” he added.
“It’s easy to take the knee when no-one’s there. It’s easy to put the badge on when no-one’s there.
“When fans are there it sparks conversation, rightly or wrongly. These are uncomfortable conversations we have to have.”
Premier League shirts have featured special Black Lives Matter logos, designed by Deeney and his partner, since matches resumed in June.
Deeney added: “When we did this with the badge, the Premier League issued a statement saying it had nothing to do with politics.
“So you’ve come out and said it’s nothing to do with politics. People say it’s all about the Black Lives Matter movement, it’s nothing to do with that.
“I want to make this very clear, it’s not all Millwall fans, because they’ve got black players playing for them.
“This is what I don’t understand. When people say ‘we’re booing because of this, we’re frustrated’.
“If their right-back, the black lad, scored, would they turn round and say ‘no, wipe that goal off, we’re not interested’.
“Again, I’m talking to the very small minority of people that feel that this is going against what Britain is all about.
“It’s so frustrating to listen to and read some of the stuff coming in here. Honestly, I don’t like calling people names but it’s stupid the way people go on like this.”