Millwall boo boys have scored an own goal, insists Shaka

SHAKA Hislop found it “heartbreaking” to watch footage of Millwall fans booing players taking the knee at the Den last weekend.

The 1-0 defeat for the Lions in their home clash with Derby County did not make any headlines, the reaction of Millwall supporters instead propelling the club into the media for the wrong reasons.

Yet Hislop feels Millwall fans have scored an own goal in many ways and the message from Show Racism the Red Card – the charity the ex-Newcastle goalie has been part of for 25 years – has only been amplified in recent days.

When asked about the reaction, Hislop told The Chronicle: “It was heartbreaking – but by equal measure unsurprising.

“I firmly believe so many people see racial inequality as a fabric of today’s society. What does that say about England or Great Britain?

“Where inequality is seen as a fabric of what that country really is, and for all that this country has endured, the world wars it has fought and the reasons why they were fought and people losing their lives for equality, now we have people booing those who are pushing for equality.

“It’s depressing on so many levels.

On the other hand, it’s provided us with the chance to see what is out there and forced the authorities to confront the issues head on.

“You can’t have players taking the knee then have somebody like Greg Clarke go into an FA meeting and use the kind of language that he did. It is damaging.”

Since the ugly incident at Millwall, Colchester supremo Robbie Cowling has warned season ticket holders at his club they will be banned if they boo players taking the knee.

A message projected on to the walls of Anfield read this week: “The stadiums have been empty. For some players, the silence brought pressure. For some, it brought peace.

“As we return to the stands let us promise to leave racism where it belongs. In the past.”

Hislop reflected: “I saw the statement put out by Colchester as they experienced booing too.

“That is the type of response you have to applaud. It moves these issues forward as a discussion and moves us as people forward.

“Liverpool put up a strong message on the side of their stadium.

“That is the type of support which will make a meaningful difference.”