Clubs could scrap taking knee
FOOTBALL League clubs have held talks about scrapping taking the knee before matches to distance themselves from the political connotations of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Meetings between the League (EFL) and their clubs last week discussed possible alternatives to the pre-match ritual to continue to show their support for the fight against racism such as anti-discrimination banners.
There are concerns the gesture has become conflated with the political organisation
Black Lives Matter. Millwall and Colchester fans claimed this was why they booed as players took the knee last weekend.
The EFL are also keen to introduce an action that is adopted by all clubs across the leagues amid a growing divide between teams which still or have stopped taking the knee.
Unlike the Premier League, in which all clubs have continued to perform the gesture before games this season, there have been weekends when more than half of EFL matches have seen no clubs do so.
The new gesture could be similar to the one performed by Millwall and QPR on Tuesday night that saw both teams stand together in front of an antiracism banner. Millwall and Middlesbrough did the same yesterday while Luton and
Preston’s players linked arms on the centre circle.
An EFL spokesman told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The EFL welcomes the positive, proactive approach taken by Millwall and QPR players as both set of squads continue to raise awareness of inequality and discrimination facing society. We will continue to support the wishes of our clubs’ players either on an individual or collective basis.
‘EFL players who have chosen to ‘take the knee’ before games or participate in similar types of initiatives are using their platform in front of millions across the world to make a statement about eradicating all types of prejudiced behaviour, encouraging attitudinal changes and creating unity.
‘Players often receive widespread criticism and negativity for merely doing their jobs but here they are leading the way, trying to effect positive change and they should be applauded for taking a stand, showing solidarity and setting an example for others to follow. Football needs to support its players and we will.’
It is understood that whatever measures are introduced, the EFL still wants to support players who wish to continue to take the knee.
Taking the knee was adopted by clubs across the leagues during Project Restart to protest racism following the death of George Floyd in America in May. The gesture, which has origins in the slave trade and civil rights movement, came to the fore in the NFL in 2016 when Colin Kaepernick took the knee during the American national anthem.
Premier League clubs also wore Black Lives Matter logos on their shirts but insisted it was not an endorsement of the Marxist political organisation of the same name.
They replaced the logos for this season with ones that state No Room For Racism though Black Lives Matter is still shown on-screen during television broadcasts on Sky Sports.
Despite the EFL never having an affiliation with the BLM movement but still having clubs take the knee, they now fear that the mixed messages have led many to see both as inseparable.
This was one of the reasons clubs such as Championship side Middlesbrough decided to stop taking the knee this season.
‘I think that [standing behind an antiracism banner rather than taking the knee] made the point more than the knee,’ said Boro boss Neil Warnock. ‘We are all of the same opinion about what we are trying to achieve. It’s just that our lads don’t think the knee is relevant, they don’t agree with the political side of that, so Britt [Assombalonga, Boro captain] said.’