Gareth Southgate hits out at fans who booed England players taking a knee

GARETH SOUTHGATE has told any England fans who boo the team taking a knee this summer that they are making a personal attack on his black players.

The anti-discrimination gesture before the friendly against Austria was greeted by loud jeers and booing at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium before being drowned out by applause by others in the ground.

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But the initial reaction hit home within the Three Lions squad and left boss Southgate questioning why some are not getting the message that taking the knee is NOT a political statement.

The England manager said: “I heard it, and it's not something on behalf of our black players that I wanted to hear because it feels as though it's a criticism of them.

“I think we have got a situation where some people seem to think it's a political stand that they don't agree with.

“That's not the reason that the players are doing it, we're supporting each other.

“So, I was pleased that that was drowned out by the majority of the crowd, but we can't deny the fact that it happened.

“The most important thing for our players to know is that all their team-mates, 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're seeing that across a number of football grounds at the moment.”

Aston Villa ace Jack Grealish added: "I don't want to hear that."

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England will be back at the Riverside on Sunday to face Romania.

And the FA will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the jeers from some supporters who wrongly believe the gesture is a symbol of far left militant group Black Lives Matter UK.

And there will be growing concern that the three home matches at Wembley will also see boos at a time when the players are doing their best to improve the fight to drive racism out of society.

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