Millwall fans were heard booing players who took the knee at the start of their match today vs Derby County. Taking the knee has become a custom at the start of matches in England’s top football divisions, seen as a sign of support for the BLM movement after the world witnessed the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in the US.
The South East London club has a historically racist reputation with hostility towards the Black and Asian community being common. Fans had not been in stadiums when players took it upon themselves to start the custom so this is the first counter protest we have seen to it.
Football fans returned to stadiums in the UK for the 1st time in 9 months on Thursday, as Arsenal played Rapid Wienna in the Europa League. All London teams qualified for match day attendees as the city fell into the Tier 1 area category of the governments post lockdown strategy. As expected the moment was celebrated as a small but much needed return to normalcy however the booing by Millwall fans highlights a deeper issue that was forgotten with fans being absent. Racism in Football is an enduring and tolerated issue.
