Players taking the knee

That may well be true, I don't know, but the latest manifestation is the one relevant to the current debate.

 

Only to those wanting to connect it. BLM used it because the Amercian Footballers used it and it gained publicity from there

 

Precisely. BLM used it.

 

And so did loads of other people, so what gives ownership to one group over another unless you are making a connection just to be against the stand

 

Whether BLM adopted it or not that’s not what it’s about. Why are you trying to complicate it, are you racist or is it just carrying a massive chip on that shoulder.

seems like you’re getting all wound up over BLM and confusing it with this Tony.

From the EFL

Taking the knee is an individual choice that many players wish to make as a way of peacefully demonstrating against racism and injustice. This gesture of unity is not new, and we do not view it as an alignment to any political organisation or ideology, but rather raising the awareness of this important issue. We ask that fans respect any player that wishes to take the knee and support them in their stance against discrimination.

 

I voted not bothered by the way.

 

Nope. They are calling it as it is. Only the racists have an issue

 

The EFL are being very naive, both in the way they think taking the knee can be detached from its broader context and in the way they don't seem to realise that their stance is only going to exacerbate the situation.

 

If black players think it’s needed so be it

 

Certainly if you’re called Tony!

what do you suggest instead to combat racism in football?

 

On the back of a fag packet I reckon i've attended some 1600 games in my time and i've never experienced any racism until the players started with this bollocks and the consensus appears to show that it has done nothing but exacerbate the situation, good luck with putting out the racist card as part of your argument, doesn't wash with me though...

 

You’ve never experienced any racism until this quote ‘bollocks’? What about others?

As I said voted not bothered, I don’t understand the anger or is it ignorance fuelled.

 

And i'm happy to be a part of the silent (usually) majority,
see above poll...goodnight..

 

My general view is that football should be completely non-political. I don't think there is any more racism in football than in any other area of society. I'm also against the seemingly constant one minute silences that delay the start of the game. Before long we'll have an announcement that the groundsman's brother's daughter's hamster died yesterday so we'll having a one-minute silence as a mark of respect and the players will all be wearing black armbands. But on a more serious note, this derives from the increasing sentimentalisation of society which predates, but has been extremely intensified since, the death of Princess Diana. By all means have these at times of genuine national moments, but let us regain our sense of proportion. Our society is becoming, like America, divided, and on every issue we are challenged to decide between black and white, for and against, yes or no. Should we have a gesture about animal rights (which I am entirely in favour of but would not want to see represented on a football pitch), gender politics or climate change before every match? Obviously no, so why should a gesture against racism take precedence? People are as they are and nothing that takes place before a game will change them. If people break the law in a football stadium in terms of racism or anything else then identify them, prosecute them and ban them. But let the rest of us get on with watching the football.

 

I keep reading some absolute crap about taking the knee being wrong because it's linked to a violent marxist movement lmao oh yeah I'm sure that's the real concern of the mouth breathers how about this for an outlook:

if the players want to do it let them do it no one gives [one] about your opinion but they might next time you're performing as a professional athlete so when that time comes you make your own mind up and leave the players to make up theirs

Idiots

 

They also wore clothes gonna burn all yours are you lol

The BLM symbol is a closed fist not an athlete taking the knee if you want to object to that imagery go ahead but you won't find it on the football pitch because it's not BLM it's players standing against racism

 

How can you possibly know what it's like to be a young black person? To be frequently stopped and searched when you've done nothing. To be racially insulted on a regular basis and told to 'go back home' when you were born here. And as a footballer to be the subject of racist hate messages on social media, as many are. To have bananas thrown and monkey noises directed at you.
It's completely beyond me to understand how anyone could suggest that reacting strongly to those things is being 'delicate'. It's mind-blowingly inappropriate and utterly out of touch with reality.

 

To be fair to Tony, I’ve been going to City for 36 years and I’ve heard a racist comment ONCE. Once in 36 years, and everyone around us put him in his place and he sheepishly walked out never to be seen again.