Players taking the knee

Context not concept.

 

If one of our own players was being racially abused during a game, it’s fair to say the vast majority of our fans would rally around him and probably drown out the chants by singing his name in support. Respectfully watching him take the knee is just another way of showing support. It’s 10 seconds, if that. Probably the same length of time it takes the ref to check that both assistant referees and goalkeepers are ready to start. To use the excuse that it’s affiliated to a political movement as a reason to boo, in my opinion shows a lack of empathy towards a person / persons who (usually) gives their all for the club in the hope of getting us promoted. Why should a person be abused for the colour of their skin or gender preference? Knowing their social media account will be full of hate messages if they happen to have made a mistake.

I see taking the knee as a stand against all forms of abuse, toward all creeds, colours and genders. Surely if you accept it’s nothing to do with any political party, (as stated by the EFL) then as a decent human being, you can stay silent for 10 seconds, unless of course you’re happy for the abuse to continue.

 

Over the years I must have been going to a different VP to those saying they have only seen a few incidents of racism. Over the years I’ve heard monkey chants, people use Nigger and Paki as if they are day to day words, chants about Gypsys.

 

I'd love a team to have a pop at goal from the kick off whilst the oppo are down on their bloody knee, yeah, even if it is against us....

 

Agree most of this thread has focussed on black people but the knee is for all forms of racism.

 

It doesn't really happen at VP these days although what constitutes racism has changed over the years.
Although I have to say that I didn't get involved in the chanting myself but when I was in my teens in the Bradford End a quite large group used to chant "zigger zigger zigger we've got a n***** Cecil Podd Joseph Cooke Cecil Podd Joseph Cooke" And Cec and Joe would turn round and wave to the chanting fans. Makes me cringe when I think back.
Also racism within the EU is quite common as well. Yes we have our problems in the UK but scenes in Hungary this week (and in the past), parts of Italy and Spain are quite racist along with parts of the former Eastern Bloc. We need to call it out and deal with it wherever it is.
The problem I have is where we get called racist if we use certain words when they are not being used in a racist way. It's like walking on eggshells.

 

The fact people are talking about shows it’s working . How can a couple of seconds of knee bend upset anyone on the other hand it keeps the battle against racism to the fore

 

In all honesty

What does it matter?

Applauding it is irrelevant, booing it is irrelevant.

Something I refuse to lose sleep over.

It won’t change anything, in my experience.

 

And Gingers , don't forget them.

 

Half agree with you, certainly the first statement on politics. It’s what the players want to do, fair enough, no point getting hung up they haven’t taken a knee for single parent lesbians and who represents them. They see it as some form of tackling an issue (whether it is a success is a ?) important to them? They obviously see it as a problem, for me though like anything once it happens repetitively it looses its impact and gets a bit meh.

 

I wonder how many players would carry on taking the knee if crowds started to dwindle,and therefore wages were reduced accordingly, I suspect not many. views welcome.

 

What a bizarre post. Who in their right mind would stop going to watch the club they love just because of a few seconds' gesture before the game starts? Answer - maybe a handful of far right, overtly racist morons, but no one else.

 

It might have helped to highlight it but, has it done anything to help stop it.
Me thinks not.

 

Now, there's a surprise, just like all brexiteers are racist eh, yep thought so...

 

If FIFA or UEFA kicked serial offenders out of competitions instead of fining the local FA twenty grand it might make a difference. England walking off the other night would have been powerful too.

 

What a weird tangent to take the argument down, how do you link taking the knee with Brexit?
I do have a serious question for you though Tony, do you object to fans bringing Union Jack and St George’s flags into the ground?
If not you should, based on your arguments about the taking the knee and it being politicised by certain groups. Both flags have been hijacked over the years by far right groups so I’m sure your view on these must logically be similar to your views on taking the knee.
If you think my analogy is irrelevant then you need to take a long hard look in the mirror.

 

I have no feelings either way re flags, any flags
My brexit reference should be obvious as the racist card was pulled out on many occasions
Anyway, i'm done with this thread now, got a match to go to....have a nice day and remember one thing.. I'm only saying out loud what most others think..!!

 

Guaranteed all racists are Brexiteers though.