KNEEL? IT’S TIME FOR A STAND!

Goldson is desperate for more to be done

THERE are no shortage of hashtags or pin badges demonstrating a resolve to keep fighting the good fight. Various noble, prolonged campaigns have attempted to eradicate the issue through education and awareness.

The sight of players and managers the length and breadth of the country taking the knee to show their support for racial equality has been football’s most powerful statement on the issue to date.

By the time Connor Goldson left the field of play on Thursday, though, he was inclined to wonder where all of the worthy gestures had really got us. If there has been any progress down the road, it is surely imperceptible.

To be clear, the Rangers defender doesn’t believe any stand taken against racism in football to be worthless.

Yet until the day UEFA punish instances of it fearlessly and appropriately, he feels those trying to make a difference through small, simple acts of solidarity will be wasting their time.

Still visibly angered by the racial abuse Slavia Prague’s Ondrej Kudela allegedly aimed at Glen Kamara, Goldson said: ‘It never will get eradicated because there are so many token gestures out there.

‘I’ll be honest, taking a knee — (it’s a) token gesture from the higher authorities to make it look like they are doing something to help.

‘But they are not doing anything because when these things happen there is no consequence.

‘There might be a fine but it’s never enough. You get fined more for showing an advertisement on your underwear than you do for being racist or having a support that’s being racist. It will never change.’

For all its slogans and campaigns, UEFA’s response to racism has been weaker than water.

When repeat offenders get away with fines akin to a parking ticket, it’s difficult to take promises of a zero-tolerance approach seriously.

‘We’re in an age now where I feel we’re making steps forwards but then with things like social media, it’s a move backwards,’ said Goldson.

‘You have the incident on the pitch where you are already angry.

‘Then you come into the changing room and the boys look at their phones and you see all sorts of emojis and racism from sections of their fans. It’s just hard to take.

‘I don’t think that you’ll ever understand how hard it is to take for us where you work so hard to get in a position where you become a professional footballer. It’s hard enough as it is, then you have to carry on with the abuse that comes with it.’

Two things immediately distinguished Thursday’s incident from the countless verbal slanging matches that routinely take place on a football pitch.

Firstly, there was Kudela putting his hand to his mouth — a pre-meditated act designed to prevent anyone from reading his lips. Secondly, there was Kamara’s volcanic reaction.

Not unique in a game which stokes passions. But hugely out of character for the even-tempered Finn.

‘I didn’t hear it myself but I know how Glen is,’ said Goldson.

‘In the two-and-a-half years he’s been here I don’t think you’ve ever seen him angry or emotional in any kind of way.

‘So for him to get like that, then I know something was said and I believe him 100 per cent.

‘That’s why I reacted the way I did. The player couldn’t even look me in my eyes or speak to me.

‘I’ve never been so angry on a football pitch.

‘I completely lost my cool and for the remainder of the game all I wanted to do was hurt someone. I’ve never been like that before on a football pitch.’

The anger felt by every member of Steven Gerrard’s squad increased in the moments after the game.

Slavia’s hastily issued statement denying the ‘disgusting accusation’ was like throwing petroleum on the fire.

‘There is a lot of emotion around the training ground today, especially after seeing their statement,’ added Goldson. ‘It just disgusts me, really.

‘It’s anger more than anything. I’m disappointed, these are scenes you should never see on a football pitch.’

It says much about the controversy that Rangers’ exit from the Europa League and their visit to Celtic Park tomorrow scarcely made it onto the agenda yesterday.

Come midday tomorrow, though, with an unbeaten league campaign to prolong, Goldson feels the players will be preoccupied with the task at hand.

‘If you wanted one game after last night it would be an Old Firm,’ he said.

‘You don’t need to talk, you don’t need to get anyone up for it, the game speaks for itself.

‘It is probably the best fixture you could have after going out in Europe.’

The derbies have come to illustrate the evolution of the team under Gerrard.

There were two wins for either side in his first season and a home defeat at the outset of last season.

Since then, Celtic’s only triumph has been in a League Cup final in which they were decidedly second best.

Gerrard’s side travel across the city tomorrow seeking a fourth straight win and a third successive victory at the home of their rivals. Goldson is adamant they will do so without a swagger.

‘We go there as champions for the first time and we need to stamp our authority on the fixture as we have for the last few games and make sure that we are victorious,’ he said.

‘I don’t think we can go there with a swagger at all. That would be really disrespectful.

‘They are a good team and if we go there with that attitude, we will let ourselves down.’