England release passionate message pleading with fans not to boo when players take knee before Euro 2020 Croatia clash
THE FA have delivered a final plea for England fans to support the Three Lions by not booing when they take the knee against Croatia.
Harry Kane will lead his side in kneeling to make a stand against racism while Croatia will remain standing at Wembley for the Euro 2020 opener.
And the FA have attempted to explain in detail to those against the stance just why it is being taken – urging them to show respect by staying quiet.
The statement said: “Today our England senior men’s team will begin their EURO 2020 campaign at our home, Wembley Stadium.
“Major tournaments don’t come around often and when they do, it’s an opportunity to unite friends, families and the country.
“This collective support is what spurs our team on during challenging moments and it gives them the best chance of succeeding.
“As the team has reiterated many times, they will collectively take the knee ahead of their fixtures during the tournament.
“They are doing this as a mechanism of peacefully protesting against discrimination, injustice and inequality.
“This is personally important to the players and the values the team collectively represents.
“This gesture of unity and fighting against inequality can be traced back as far as the 18th century.
“It is not new, and English football has made it very clear that it does not view this as being aligned to a political organisation or ideology.
“There can be no doubt as to why the players are taking the knee and what it represents in a footballing context.
“We encourage those that oppose this action to reflect on the message you are sending to the players you are supporting.
“Please respect their wishes and remember that we should all be united in the fight to tackle discrimination. Together.
“They will do their best for you. Please do your best for them.”
England’s players have been taking the knee ahead of kick-off in recent months as a gesture against racism and inequality.
The stance was jeered by a minority of fans in both of England’s Euro 2020 warm-up games at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium – the first occasions the knee had been taken with supporters in attendance.
But some have criticised the move as divisive and called for the team to stop the gesture.
Brendan Clarke-Smith, a lawmaker for the Conservative Party, wrote on Facebook last week that taking the knee “now comes across as little more than habitual tokenism and has lost its effect”.
Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha earlier this year stopped the gesture, saying it was “degrading”. A number of football clubs in the Championship made the same decision.