Great day was marred by the booing of our players taking the knee

Gareth Southgate says "some people aren't understanding the message" after fans at the Riverside Stadium jeered when players took a knee before England played Austria.

Boos circulated around the stadium before kick-off but were drowned out by applause from other supporters.
"I was pleased it was drowned out by the majority of the crowd but we can't deny it happened," said Southgate.

Speaking of the booing, Southgate added: "It's not something on behalf of our black players that I wanted to hear because it feels as though it is a criticism of them.

"I think we have got a situation where some people think it's a political stand that they don't agree with - that's not the reason the players are doing it, we are supporting each other.

"I think the most important thing for our players to know is that all their team-mates and all the staff are fully supportive.

"I think the majority of people understand it. I think some people aren't quite understanding the message and I suppose we are seeing that across a number of football grounds at the moment."


There you go. The head coach of the England football team has presented the facts in a message that is pretty simple to understand. There can be no confusion or view that it's about some wider political theory. It's about certain players being abused purely because of the colour of their skin and the rest of the players coming together to say 'we're not going to accept that'.

It's their choice as a collective and given that they're doing something positive, I can't see why anyone would be against it.
 
straightatthewall said:
Gareth Southgate says "some people aren't understanding the message" after fans at the Riverside Stadium jeered when players took a knee before England played Austria.

Boos circulated around the stadium before kick-off but were drowned out by applause from other supporters.
"I was pleased it was drowned out by the majority of the crowd but we can't deny it happened," said Southgate.

Speaking of the booing, Southgate added: "It's not something on behalf of our black players that I wanted to hear because it feels as though it is a criticism of them.

"I think we have got a situation where some people think it's a political stand that they don't agree with - that's not the reason the players are doing it, we are supporting each other.

"I think the most important thing for our players to know is that all their team-mates and all the staff are fully supportive.

"I think the majority of people understand it. I think some people aren't quite understanding the message and I suppose we are seeing that across a number of football grounds at the moment."


There you go. The head coach of the England football team has presented the facts in a message that is pretty simple to understand. There can be no confusion or view that it's about some wider political theory. It's about certain players being abused purely because of the colour of their skin and the rest of the players coming together to say 'we're not going to accept that'.

It's their choice as a collective and given that they're doing something positive, I can't see why anyone would be against it.
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Pretty much spot on. It doesn't matter whether you support it or not, what matters is our players who do support it hear you booing them. What effect is that going to have on their performance?
 
southshore said:
Pretty much spot on. It doesn't matter whether you support it or not, what matters is our players who do support it hear you booing them. What effect is that going to have on their performance?
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Who knows what effect it might have on their performance? They might even concede an own goal after 50 seconds.
 
straightatthewall said:
Gareth Southgate says "some people aren't understanding the message" after fans at the Riverside Stadium jeered when players took a knee before England played Austria.

Boos circulated around the stadium before kick-off but were drowned out by applause from other supporters.
"I was pleased it was drowned out by the majority of the crowd but we can't deny it happened," said Southgate.

Speaking of the booing, Southgate added: "It's not something on behalf of our black players that I wanted to hear because it feels as though it is a criticism of them.

"I think we have got a situation where some people think it's a political stand that they don't agree with - that's not the reason the players are doing it, we are supporting each other.

"I think the most important thing for our players to know is that all their team-mates and all the staff are fully supportive.

"I think the majority of people understand it. I think some people aren't quite understanding the message and I suppose we are seeing that across a number of football grounds at the moment."


There you go. The head coach of the England football team has presented the facts in a message that is pretty simple to understand. There can be no confusion or view that it's about some wider political theory. It's about certain players being abused purely because of the colour of their skin and the rest of the players coming together to say 'we're not going to accept that'.

It's their choice as a collective and given that they're doing something positive, I can't see why anyone would be against it.
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For once, I think someone with a high profile has got this spot on.
Really good quotes from Southgate.
 
Mexboroseasider said:
Does anyone think this guy will be teaching his daughter to boo people who take the knee? Especially when they do so in solidarity with a mate who has received racial abuse over social media. Nope, because he gets it.

Nice sentiments by the way, but making the link with CRT has more than a hint of the “shaking the jar” post made earlier. The next front in the so called Culture Wars some people want to promote.
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I have not once agreed with booing the knee mex, but dont let that get in the way of the truth. It’s rather simple really isn’t it, no taking of the knee no booing everyone is happy and theres no divisiveness for you to try and pick apart. Like they say in the video, treat each other with respect. But in the loony Lefts case as long as it’s suits your narrative.
 
Scaramanga said:
I have not once agreed with booing the knee mex, but dont let that get in the way of the truth. It’s rather simple really isn’t it, no taking of the knee no booing everyone is happy and theres no divisiveness for you to try and pick apart. Like they say in the video, treat each other with respect. But in the loony Lefts case as long as it’s suits your narrative.
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So what causes the division? The kneeling or the booing?

If there’d been no booing then this thread wouldn’t exist and then, as you say, “everyone is happy and there’s no divisiveness”.

But I do agree with you and the guy in the video that everyone should treat everyone else with respect. Again I don’t think booing is showing respect.
 
Mexboroseasider said:
So what causes the division? The kneeling or the booing?

If there’d been no booing then this thread wouldn’t exist and then, as you say, “everyone is happy and there’s no divisiveness”.

But I do agree with you and the guy in the video that everyone should treat everyone else with respect. Again I don’t think booing is showing respect.
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Freedom of speech is a very important part of our lives mex. Clearly people still feel the taking of the knee is a kick back from American politics and the rise of BLM which is ( in many people’s opinion ) causing too much divisiveness. I think the political message has been done to death and needs to put back in the box. Nobody and I mean nobody on this board would disagree with returning to the clear message that racism in any form will not be tolerated but it needs to be done another way. Otherwise the divisive nature of taking the knee will only cause more trouble if it continues next season.
 
Scaramanga said:
Freedom of speech is a very important part of our lives mex. Clearly people still feel the taking of the knee is a kick back from American politics and the rise of BLM which is ( in many people’s opinion ) causing too much divisiveness. I think the political message has been done to death and needs to put back in the box. Nobody and I mean nobody on this board would disagree with returning to the clear message that racism in any form will not be tolerated but it needs to be done another way. Otherwise the divisive nature of taking the knee will only cause more trouble if it continues next season.
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But the players aren't doing it to deliver a political message. Unless you think they're lying?
 
Why is it after it has been explained so many times why some are against taking the knee there are those who insist on trying to make out we are against the players as people?
 
EagleDay said:
Why is it after it has been explained so many times why some are against taking the knee there are those who insist on trying to make out we are against the players as people?
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Maybe it's because the reason given for people being against 'taking the knee' has been shown to be not the case by the very words of the players and managers.

Booer: I don't like this knee business. It's politically motivated.
Player/manager: It's not politically motivated. We don't like our colleagues being racially abused and we want to make a collective stand against it.
Booer: Well i don't like it. It's politically motivated.
 
The cynics among us may think that all of this 'politics has no place in football' argument is an attempt to dilute, deflect and negate the message conveyed by the kneeling (i.e. the message of racial equality and intolerance of racism in our society). Furthermore, booing the kneeling can be seen as an attempt to shut people down and to stop them from expressing themselves by supporting a message of racial equality.

Southgate has put it very clearly and succinctly as several others have done so previously. The idea that professional football players want to defund the police or support Marxism is clearly nonsense, they are amongst the biggest beneficiaries (financially) from the structure of our society.

I do wonder what motivates some to keep on arguing that an anti-racism gesture freely entered into (or not) by the people concerned should be stopped. It takes less than 10 seconds FFS.
 
straightatthewall said:
But the players aren't doing it to deliver a political message. Unless you think they're lying?
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How do you know what they are doing it for. The taking of the knee swiftly followed the murder of George Floyd make no mistake about it. That was followed up by the BLM riots and the taking of the knee. You may like to think that’s it’s in solidarity with all black people who receive racism and if you like that’s fine, but show it in another way and not in sport. It’s just not necessary and it’s too divisive. As I said were all against racism, it’s possible to agree with stopping all racism and not agree with taking the knee.
 
Scaramanga said:
How do you know what they are doing it for. The taking of the knee swiftly followed the murder of George Floyd make no mistake about it. That was followed up by the BLM riots and the taking of the knee. You may like to think that’s it’s in solidarity with all black people who receive racism and if you like that’s fine, but show it in another way and not in sport. It’s just not necessary and it’s too divisive. As I said were all against racism, it’s possible to agree with stopping all racism and not agree with taking the knee.
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How do we know what they do it for? Well the initiative was well-publicised when it started and we all knew what it was for. I don't think it's because having one grass-stained knee is fashionable.

As for it being unnecessary and too divisive - you only have to look at this thread to see that the people who think that, and make the most fuss, tend to be white racists.
 
Wilburrabbit said:
The racist abuse and prejudice issue is a real one and must be tackled.

The taking the knee issue is done by rote and a meaningless gesture now.
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You could say the same about standing for the National Anthem.
The same people supporting booing taking the knee once said that it was not the racism but the connection with BLM . That they would gladly support the Stand up to Racism movement promoted by the FA. That was until the FA, EFL and football clubs had a boycott of social media to highlight the racism players including our own are subjected to. Oddly that was also an irrelevant gesture and shouldn't be supported. Honestly, these people would have attacked Rosa Parks for the blatantly "political" act of sitting in a whites only seat for being a troublemaker.
See Scaramanga's post while I was typing this as a perfect example.
 
coppiceman said:
How do we know what they do it for? Well the initiative was well-publicised when it started and we all knew what it was for. I don't think it's because having one grass-stained knee is fashionable.

As for it being unnecessary and too divisive - you only have to look at this thread to see that the people who think that, and make the most fuss, tend to be white racists.
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Sorry Who’s a racist ?
 
Magic147 said:
I'd have far more respect for people if they just came out and said, "I don't like it because I'm racist."
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coppiceman said:
As for it being unnecessary and too divisive - you only have to look at this thread to see that the people who think that, and make the most fuss, tend to be white racists.
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Hard to decide which is the dumbest post.
 
coppiceman said:
How do we know what they do it for? Well the initiative was well-publicised when it started and we all knew what it was for. I don't think it's because having one grass-stained knee is fashionable.

As for it being unnecessary and too divisive - you only have to look at this thread to see that the people who think that, and make the most fuss, tend to be white racists.
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I assume Wilfred zaha comes under that bracket aswell does he, and the whole of the Oxford Utd team ? Do I need to go on?
 
SEASIDE2020 said:
Will be interesting to see if Coppice is able to provide evidence to support the allegation he has made.
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Maybe we should start with a definition of the word racist?

Hands up those who think it only means using the N word?

So if you don’t you use the N word you can’t possibly be a racist.
 
Mexboroseasider said:
Maybe we should start with a definition of the word racist?

Hands up those who think it only means using the N word?

So if you don’t you use the N word you can’t possibly be a racist.
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Mex

What on earth are you going on about ?

Nobody is using the N word and nobody is insinuating that you can't be racist if you don't use the N word.

It's time these ridiculous and frivolous accusations of racism stopped.

Nobody should be allowed to make these accusations without good reason, it's completely unacceptable and should not be allowed to continue.

Far too many on this forum are putting 2 and 2 together and getting 37 point 3 recurring.

Time for folk to put up or shut up ?
 
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SEASIDE2020 said:
Mex

What on earth are you going on about ?

Nobody is using the N word and nobody is insinuating that you can't be racist if you don't use the N word.

It's time these ridiculous and frivolous accusations of racism stopped.

Nobody should be allowed to these accusations without good reason, it's completely unacceptable and should not be allowed to continue.

Far too many on this forum are putting 2 and 2 together and getting 37 point 3 recurring.

Time for folk to put up or shut up ?
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I just suggested it might help us in the debate if we had a definition of racism.

Out of curiosity - what’s yours?
 
Mexboroseasider said:
Maybe we should start with a definition of the word racist?

Hands up those who think it only means using the N word?

So if you don’t you use the N word you can’t possibly be a racist.
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Rather childish, perhaps that in itself shows the mentality of the people who keep crying racist over a mere disagreement.
 
Mexboroseasider said:
I just suggested it might help us in the debate if we had a definition of racism.

Out of curiosity - what’s yours?
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No Mex, you decided to inform us that you can be racist without using the N word as if folk were suggesting otherwise.

I fail to see what an exact definition has to do with the price of fish but what is key here is that it is certainly NOT racist to criticise or fail to support a certain protest against racism.

In exactly the same way that if you criticise a form of protest or fail to support a certain protest against let's say abuse of young girls, it certainly wouldn't mean that you were in favour of child abuse.

I don't work for the Oxford English Dictionary but a quick and simple definition would be to discriminate against a person - or persons - on grounds of race.

I know that definition is not a perfect one but please feel free to rip it apart if you really feel the need.
 
EagleDay said:
Rather childish, perhaps that in itself shows the mentality of the people who keep crying racist over a mere disagreement.
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Maybe more lazy than childish in Mex's case to be fair.

He is certainly not stupid but these continual allegations of racism are pathetic and all rather sad.
 
Dollar Thief said:
A question that you can answer to see if the crowd that boo are racist or not.

Were any non white players abused by any parts of the crowd during the game because of the colour of their skin?
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That's not strictly true that Dollar because it is possible to be racist and not behave as a racist during one specific game.

Sorry to be pedantic and I know what you are trying to say.

In recent times at Bloomfield Road - I know nobody has been there during Covid - I have seen one incident which I would describe as a racist one.

When we played Blackburn at home in the Championship, DJ Campbell came on for them and one of our supporters in the North shouted, "Campbell you black b@stard".

His shout was originally met with silence - I assume everybody was shocked - and then supporters near the chap started making it clear to him that such behaviour was unacceptable.

At Blackpool, we have a long history of employing black players and they are always treated the same as everybody else as they should be.

That is not to say that we can't do better as racism is something that we should aim to completely eradicate from football and society but there is not a big problem with racism at Bloomfield Road and it would be ridiculous to suggest otherwise.
 
coppiceman said:
I think I may have touched a few neves, by the looks of it.
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Coppice

No, you have not touched any nerves and everybody on the thread is behaving perfectly well enough except for you.

You have been called out for making ridiculous accusations and as yet you have failed to justify them and have now resorted to making silly little quips and behaving like a child.

You are a bully and appear to have no respect for opinions that differ from those of your own.
 
I dunno why everyone is getting aerated.

If you’re discussing whether or not someone is a racist (as we are on this thread) I just thought it might help to have a definition.

And a scorecard might be a good idea as well. And aQ&A form.

First question “Have you ever booed taking the knee?”

Don’t panic. It’s a game where points accumulate. In both directions.
 
Mexboroseasider said:
I dunno why everyone is getting aerated.

If you’re discussing whether or not someone is a racist (as we are on this thread) I just thought it might help to have a definition.

And a scorecard might be a good idea as well. And aQ&A form.

First question “Have you ever booed taking the knee?”

Don’t panic. It’s a game where points accumulate. In both directions.
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Mex

No problem, I'm not sure anybody is getting irritated but I don't think this is going anywhere and certainly not if you are inferring that booing "taking the knee" would make somebody a racist.

I'm not interested in points scoring, I am suggesting that people shouldn't make frivolous accusations against fellow posters without providing evidence when challenged but as I've said the discussion/debate is not moving on and I'm not sure it ever did or was ever meant to.
 
SEASIDE2020 said:
Coppice

No, you have not touched any nerves and everybody on the thread is behaving perfectly well enough except for you.

You have been called out for making ridiculous accusations and as yet you have failed to justify them and have now resorted to making silly little quips and behaving like a child.

You are a bully and appear to have no respect for opinions that differ from those of your own.
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So why have you written about four essays on the subject in the last hour or so?

I'm not bullying anyone. Just observing that whenever the topic of race comes up, there are a few of you who are like moths round a flame. Your all proving my point for me too.
 
coppiceman said:
So why have you written about four essays on the subject in the last hour or so?

I'm not bullying anyone. Just observing that whenever the topic of race comes up, there are a few of you who are like moths round a flame. Your all proving my point for me too.
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Coppice

To say that I have written four essays is perhaps stretching things but I am able to justify my stance and support it in a perfectly acceptable manner but do feel free to demonstrate to myself and the rest of the board any of my behaviours which are unacceptable.

If you accept that my behaviour on this thread has been acceptable then perhaps you could kindly provide evidence to support the allegation of racism that you have made against Scaramanga - your allegation was made specifically against Scaramanga although you have somehow inferred that I was racist because of my participation in this thread.
 
In don’t think Scara is a racist.
Thats a heavy accusation to lay at someone who has slightly different perspectives on things than some of us may have.
Unless someone can find a post where he has been racially abusive I think people should refrain from making such accusations.
I don’t think anyone is racist on here, and if they were I’d be the first to shoot them down.
 
straightatthewall said:
Maybe it's because the reason given for people being against 'taking the knee' has been shown to be not the case by the very words of the players and managers.

Booer: I don't like this knee business. It's politically motivated.
Player/manager: It's not politically motivated. We don't like our colleagues being racially abused and we want to make a collective stand against it.
Booer: Well i don't like it. It's politically motivated.
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Are players being racially abused at football grounds? Can't say that I've seen any of that myself over the last 20 years or so.

If not, what exactly are they making a stand against?
 
Lost Seasider said:
Are players being racially abused at football grounds? Can't say that I've seen any of that myself over the last 20 years or so.

If not, what exactly are they making a stand against?
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They are racially abused at UK football grounds occasionally and they are frequently abused on social media.
 
Lost Seasider said:
Are players being racially abused at football grounds? Can't say that I've seen any of that myself over the last 20 years or so.

If not, what exactly are they making a stand against?
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You must have been looking the other way then.

And it is absolutely rife in Easter Europe. Pretending there isn't a problem won't solve anything. One or two posters on here don't seem to understand that. Whether its racism or just old-fashioned ignorance I couldn't say.
 
Lost Seasider said:
Are players being racially abused at football grounds? Can't say that I've seen any of that myself over the last 20 years or so.

If not, what exactly are they making a stand against?
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I dunno?

Has there been racial abuse on social media or something like that? Maybe they just feel they are treated like second class citizens by some people and shouldn’t have to put up with it any more?

Ask Laurence Fox. He seems to have a handle on it. What with being a victim and all.
 
Lost Seasider said:
Are players being racially abused at football grounds? Can't say that I've seen any of that myself over the last 20 years or so.

If not, what exactly are they making a stand against?
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Same here, even travelling back home to the Midlands I have not seen or heard any acts of racism, and I have met a lot of different fans on Preston station. Seems they are just preaching to the converted rather than actually tackling the problem at the source, it's easier to attack those you can see than to search out the real culprits. From what I understand all the racist abuse is coming from social media, how many fans go to a match and then go back home to their bedroom to abuse players online? Are they even football fans?
 
Mexboroseasider said:
I dunno?

Has there been racial abuse on social media or something like that? Maybe they just feel they are treated like second class citizens by some people and shouldn’t have to put up with it any more?

Ask Laurence Fox. He seems to have a handle on it. What with being a victim and all.
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Many people are treated like second class citizens both white and non-white, so what is your point?
 
EagleDay said:
Many people are treated like second class citizens both white and non-white, so what is your point?
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You’re not wrong.

There’s a couple of threads on here where Brits have been classed as slackers, benefits scroungers and n’er do wells.

It’s almost as if we’re continually looking for scapegoats and people to look down on.
 
EagleDay said:
I have long held the belief there are people who do not want racism to do die, why? who knows. But you obviously appear to be one of those people with your determination to make out everybody who disagrees with your views as a racist and a bigot, because let's face it, the discussion on these pages is just a simple disagreement of how anti-race campaigns should proceed there has been nothing racist or bigoted been said or could even be interpreted as such. That is of course you are not just a wind-up merchant or an ardent wannabe Yank, that is certainly how you are now coming across.
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Embarrassing, condescending, pig-headed and either so ignorant I feel sorry for you or so much of a horrible piece of work I feel sorry for anybody who has to share a room with you. Honestly makes me sad to know you’re a Blackpool fan. There are plenty of people I disagree with on here but you are one of the rare and long forgotten few I’m actually disgusted by. To accuse the guy of not wanting racism to end with spurious, tedious semi-logic... just wow. If ever anybody needed demonstration that you are not here for discussion, but just to ‘win’ your sad, pathetic little-man victories, there it is. Don’t bother replying, I’ve a feeling I won’t see it.
 
Alf said:
Embarrassing, condescending, pig-headed and either so ignorant I feel sorry for you or so much of a horrible piece of work I feel sorry for anybody who has to share a room with you. Honestly makes me sad to know you’re a Blackpool fan. There are plenty of people I disagree with on here but you are one of the rare and long forgotten few I’m actually disgusted by. To accuse the guy of not wanting racism to end with spurious, tedious semi-logic... just wow. If ever anybody needed demonstration that you are not here for discussion, but just to ‘win’ your sad, pathetic little-man victories, there it is. Don’t bother replying, I’ve a feeling I won’t see it.
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What's embarrassing is people like you who cannot discuss anything without trying to be offensive, we're talking about a simple difference of opinion here nothing more.
 
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