'Racist' Milwall Fans - Your View?

[andy-hughes]

There has been controversy about the reaction to players 'taking the knee' at a weekend game, where Milwall fans were heard to boo the players involved.

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fa-launch-probe-after-millwall-4774697

It appears the FA are investigating the potential for action against the club for the 'racsist actions' of its fans.

Personally, I don't believe that showing your disapproval of an act of support for a social campaign - or a political organisation, depending on your viewpoint, equates to either not supporting that campain / organisation, or to actively advising your support of an opposite point of view.

Put simply, I don't believe that booing 'taking the knee' makes anyone a racist.

It's an assumption that has no basis in reason, and to me, it shows people being far too keen to look at a negative attitude to one behaviour, and ascribe it possessing a negative attitude to another, with no viable connection.

I am not a football fan, and I wouldn't ever boo anyone, or any action in public, but I do strongly dislike the pointless OTT woke-ism and self-righteousness of 'taking the knee' and I believe it has no place in our sports arenas, but if anyone were to accuse me of being a racist for expressing that view, we would be having serious words.

What are your views?

[jim360]

BLM isn't a single organisation as such, as has been made clear in the past. It's therefore a mistake to equate supporting BLM as a slogan with supporting the far-left branches that have co-opted it.

[Ellipsis]

Quite. But this isn't about Black Lives Matter, much though some people would like it to be, it's about the FA choosing to investigate the people who booed.

I suppose if the crowd had made monkey chants and thrown bananas onto the pitch, the FA would investigate that too. You know, just to check if there was any racism behind it ...

[Mozz71]

In football terms, is the whole taking the knee thing still BLM supporting? Most of the time, commetators seem to refer to it as supporting "racial equality" and the FA's own Kick It Out movement.

I think it's probably time to stop now, as it has been going on for months now, but booing it seems rather petty. I don't think having to wait for 5 seconds longer for kick off really puts anyone out too much. Of course, this is Millwall we're talking about. There's history there.

[Mozz71]

This is a much better compromise. Anyone who boos this action really does have a problem.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12040/12154686/millwall-and-qpr-to-stand-arm-in-arm-against-discrimination-at-tuesdays-match

[Old_Geezer]

My view is that I don't know whether the fans are racist or not, but clearly those players who flaunt their support for the racist idea that it is the black skinned folk whose lives matter, certainly are. They deserve all the disapproval others show for them, for their shameful action.

[Ken4155]

^
If you truly believe that's what they're saying, OG, you have a problem borne of ignorance.

[Old_Geezer]

My problem is having common sense and intelligence in a world where it seems to be so rare, as you amply demonstrate.

[Ken4155]

There are certain sections of our society who believe that black lives matter less than others. They don't. Nor do they matter any more than others. But that's not what those in support are saying, either. You appear to think differently, OG. Fine, your opinion matters just as much as the next. Just like black lives.

[royfromaus]

jim360
BLM isn't a single organisation as such, as has been made clear in the past. It's therefore a mistake to equate supporting BLM as a slogan with supporting the far-left branches that have co-opted it.
_______________________

Why do you continue to trot out that lie?

BLM founder Patrisse Cullors
“We actually do have an ideological frame”
“We are trained Marxists. We are super-versed on, sort of, ideological theories.”

[naomi24]

//Why do you continue to trot out that lie? //

I call it verbal jimnastics.

[royfromaus]

Ken4155
There are certain sections of our society who believe that black lives matter less than others.
______________________________

Yes, and ditto for There are certain sections of our society who believe that white lives matter less than others.

[margarettom]

Booing the players ‘taking the knee’ happened in America in the NFL games. It is not just Milwall fans. The SA cricket team voted against it and wore black armbands instead. Perhaps football needs to move on, as per the BA. Otherwise I fear this will happen again.
TBH it annoys me.

[dannyk13]

Millwall fans have had a bad reputation for years:-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millwall_Bushwackers

[Khandro]

jim: //BLM isn't a single organisation as such, as has been made clear in the past. It's therefore a mistake to equate supporting BLM as a slogan with supporting the far-left branches that have co-opted it.//

Therefore those conjoined groups are a component of BLM.

Think, The Labour Party (as was) & Momentum !

[naomi24]

I don't think they're racist. I think, like many of us, they're sick and tired of the politically correct 'woke' posturing.

[Mozz71]

Well, given Millwall and QPR's combined stance at their next match, we're going to find out if they are racist or not soon enough.

[royfromaus]

Well,they will still be taking the knee, Mozz...so don't hold your breath.

Personally, it is the failure to distance themselves from BLM not the knee that irks me.

Multi-millionaire footballers embracing an ideology that wants to dismantle capitalism, you couldn't make it up.

[Khandro]

Is it time to give, giving the knee, the elbow ? :o)

[Mozz71]

//Well,they will still be taking the knee, Mozz...so don't hold your breath.//

No they're not Roy, as per my link at 07:59. The two teams are uniting under an anti-racism banner. Nothing to do with BLM, instead approved by Kick It Out.

[royfromaus]

//"QPR have informed Millwall that a selection of their players wish to take the knee as a way of showing their support for anti-discrimination efforts - a gesture which the club respects and it firmly asks all those in attendance to do likewise.//