QPR WILL take the knee before Millwall clash... as FA launch investigation into booing at the Den

  /  autty

QPR have pulled a U-turn on their policy not to take the knee before matches, deciding to show 'solidarity' through the gesture in front of under-fire Millwall fans.

The west Londoners will travel across the capital to the Den on Tuesday where - before a 1-0 defeat to Derby on Saturday - a section of home fans booed all 22 men for taking the knee before kick-off.

Millwall have condemned their own supporters' behaviour which sparked a major backlash, while cabinet minister George Eustice responded by calling Black Lives Matter a 'political movement' which is 'different from what most of us believe in.'

The FA have now launched an investigation into the incident, while QPR's response is to re-introduce the gesture to their match-day routine - having omitted it since the start of the season.

'In light of certain events, we'll stand solidly behind the cause and our players will take a knee,' QPR boss Mark Warburton said.

'Tomorrow night we will show solidarity because we will not tolerate any form of discrimination.

'It's the right thing to do, everyone can see that. The players have come to me and told me their thoughts and I absolutely agree with them.

'Going forward, this club is so proactive in this area and this is one of the most diverse clubs in the country.

'It's not about token gestures, it's about positive action.

'What Les said, we agree 100 per cent with. Using the NHS clap for carers as an example, it was a fantastic cause but it ran its course and now we move on from there.'

'What Les said' was the reason the Loftus Road side dropped taking the knee, with the club's director of football Les Ferdinand arguing in September: 'Taking the knee was very powerful but we feel that impact has now been diluted.'

There was also booing of the gesture at Colchester's clash with Grimsby at the weekend, leading to an FA investigation announced on Monday.

'The FA can confirm that investigations are under way into crowd-related incidents at both The Den and JobServe Community Stadium on Saturday 5 December 2020,' the governing body's statement reads.

'Observations have been sought from all of the relevant parties and they will have until Thursday 10 December 2020 to provide their respective responses.'

Related: Millwall Queens Park Rangers
Download All Football for more comments