BOO... AND WE ALL LOSE

BY JOHN CROSS Chief Football Writer JORDAN HENDERSON claims English football faces a real problem with racism if fans keep booing during the Euros.

Liverpool captain Henderson sent a message to fans ahead of England’s opener with Croatia, urging them to stop jeering players who take the knee.

But the FA fear a section of supporters will still boo the anti-racism protest after

England players promised to carry on, regardless of the backlash.

England midfielder Henderson said: “I think it shows that, if there’s still people booing because we’re standing together against racism, then there really still is a problem and we’ve still got to fight it.

“It shows even more that we have to keep going, keep fighting. It’s about being together and doing what we think is right – and that’s what we feel is right.

“I think, as players, we’ve made it very clear that we all stand together against racism. That’s the reason we continue to take the knee, and have done over the last few weeks. I think the lads are starting to feel like they don’t really want to talk about it any more.

“Everyone knows we stand together and you’ll see that in us taking the knee, but we want to get on with the football and concentrate on that. That’s our focus.”

Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings is one of the senior figures in the England dressing room to have spoken in favour of continuing the anti-racism protest.

Mings said: “You would hope that, by educating these people, some day they will understand why it is that we are taking a knee. But, four or five days before a major tournament starts, I don’t want to get caught up on whether or not we should.

“I am a strong advocate for trying to educate people who might not understand issues they have been subjected to.”