The decision to take the knee - as a result of the death of George Floyd in the USA and the global tide of support for the BLM movement - was a player-led decision in solidarity and support for Black people facing racism. We have all seen players face racist abuse on and off the pitch - this is not a political issue it is a human rights issue.
The PFA fully supports the players’ right to take the knee, whilst understanding it is the responsibility of the football authorities to continue to push and challenge inequalities in football. The closed stadiums have been a respite for players receiving on-field abuse, although it has not stopped continued abuse on-line.
The perpetrators at Millwall should be easily traced given stadium restrictions and we call on the club to act swiftly to identify the section of the crowd who booed the players. Whilst booing is not a crime, it is a sad indictment of the lack of understanding and empathy for the players’ fight against racism and discrimination.
