Marcus Rashford became England’s eighth black captain at the Riverside last night. How did his own fans congratulate him? They booed him.
Jadon Sancho, Tyrone Mings, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ben Godfrey and Kalvin Phillips all started against the Romanians — they were treated with similar disdain as they took the knee.
Imagine that? Proactively heckling the players you have gone out to support?
Unfortunately, we don’t have to imagine. This disgraceful behaviour is occurring in front of our eyes in living colour.
It is all utterly depressing.
There was hope that after Gareth Southgate’s inspiring explanation of why his players would continue taking the knee, in the face of dissent at last Wednesday’s game against Austria, there wouldn’t be a repeat on Sunday.
How wrong we were — the England boss’s emotional remarks haven’t made a blind bit of difference.
‘It’s never going to stop. It’s the fans that don’t want to listen, they don’t like to change,’ said Ashley Cole on Sunday.
You fear Cole, who played 107 times from England, is spot on in his prediction.
English football still has some way to travel; the two bleak episodes in four days here in Teesside have told us that.
Credit to those who tried their hardest to drown out the jeers with applause. Yet the echo of boos was inescapable.
And, as if to hammer home the point, this deplorable section of England’s support chucked in a chorus of ‘No Surrender’ during the national anthems for good measure.
Those booing insist they aren’t racist, merely voicing dissent with the political arm of the Black Lives Matter movement.
No right-minded person buys that for a minute. Players have already made clear their actions have no alignment with politics, taking the knee is about anti-discrimination.
This is now a major problem for the FA.
Those who booed — tickets were restricted to England Supporters Club members — are likely to be at Wembley for Sunday’s Euros opener against Croatia, a game that is supposed to be a symbol of hope and excitement.
Instead, here we are — dreading how a shameless minority might resist 11 men’s fight for equality.
sah_sannidhya
613
Taking knee is a symbol of Anti Racism campaign . Even a flag is a national symbol , but we don't really boo it . Then why against taking the knee . Remember one thing symbols are always used to convey messages . And the Message is clear SAY NO TO RACISM . Booing a team with a black Captain (youngest national Captain ) is further disheartening . Shame on such fans .
Jentle18
538
I’m African and I leave in the United States, taking this knee got nothing to do with racism, is it a symbol of these players kneeling 🧎🏽♂️ to Africans or African Americans, no soccer player talked about the Asia racism where Asians were been attacked in the United States and around the world, I don’t know if Asian lives don’t matter, ALL LIVES MATTERS. ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿.
simfukwewilson
461
we are all one imagine Hakim Ziyech is the only African player here
Vuncdlopuz
433
Maybe some people didn't know this fact....all over the continents..or earth to be specific...Black blood is looked down upon .. whether you take it or not..Black people have suffered racism a lot..if a white or any other colour which is not black travels to any part of this world.he travels with dignity but the opp happens to the black people who sometimes are subjected to all sorts of unwarranted humiliations jus because of his colour ...I thought racism will end one day...but after traveling this whole world.... RACISM is there for life ..we blacks accept other races and it's opposite with other Races...Black Life Matters as well...
Jamirl
396
Different religion, nationality,and ideas,one blood one people we are all United!Racism is a disease and the only cure is to detest from it Say no to racism ♥️💯
Caobimnryz
360
I support the fans, taking the knee is not working, i pay to watch football, not politics, Get politics out of football, if black people dont want to play the sport, so be it, i dont care, They Get paid so much i am sure They can handle a little bit criticism, please keep booing
someone should look for this idiot n teach him the lesson of his life
Bihcdiksuy
272
I support the fans, taking the knee is not working, i pay to watch football, not politics, Get politics out of football, if black people dont want to play the sport, so be it, i dont care, They Get paid so much i am sure They can handle a little bit criticism, please keep booing
U such a racist devil. If it was not for ur hate of these people we wouldn't be having all these campaigns. So for u to talk shit like that, u have forgotten that u white people who r racist has caused this
Jamirl
258
we are all one say no to racism
Jamirl
140
To be honest England fans are one of the most toxic fans in the world
Nixxboy
117
I get a question by the way, have u ever heard a song title "white is beautiful" No, u know what you (White) can't survive without we Black, if so God gave us the day and the night right? Ok now if u consider white is better than Black then why u so love to sleep when the day is down to dark and darker than our skin colour even ur mama's womb is dark b4 u came to the light, so u white people stop bursting without black u are OK in fact u need us more than we do bcuz we're harder than u, what colour do u see dead more in this pandemic? bcuz u guys think u are smarter. Black is pure man even the earth we living now is covered by dark not light. RESPECT BLACK AND BLACK LIVES MATTER you feel me