Why do England players take the knee? What footballers have said about fans booing the anti-racism gesture
Having taken a knee since last July and throughout the 2020-21 Premier League season, England’s players have decided to continue the gesture at Euro 2020.
This decision was met with jeers from some England supporters at their warm-up fixtures against Austria and Romania in Middlesbrough, and it has therefore become a major talking point heading into the tournament.
England will play their three Group D games against Croatia, Scotland and Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium, and there is a worry some fans could continue booing their players when they take a knee just before kick-off.
Manager Gareth Southgate has held two meetings to discuss this issue, but the squad have collectively agreed to take a knee throughout the group stage and potentially beyond.
In their own words, the England manager and a handful of his players outline why the squad will not be deterred by a vocal minority…
Southgate’s open letter: Dear England
In an open letter published on The Players’ Tribune, Gareth Southgate reflected on what it meant to watch England at a major tournament and his own pride at representing his country, but he also explained why he and his players are using their platform to fight injustice.
“I have never believed that we should just stick to football,” Southgate said.
“I know my voice carries weight, not because of who I am but because of the position that I hold. At home, I’m below the kids and the dogs in the pecking order but publicly I am the England men’s football team manager. I have a responsibility to the wider community to use my voice, and so do the players.
“It’s their duty to continue to interact with the public on matters such as equality, inclusivity and racial injustice, while using the power of their voices to help put debates on the table, raise awareness and educate.”
In several press conferences and interviews leading up to Euro 2020, Southgate has reiterated the squad’s stance, and stressed the boos will not stop them from taking a knee.
“We’ve accepted that, as a group. It isn’t going to stop what we are doing and what we believe. It certainly isn’t going to stop my support for our players and our staff,” Southgate added.
“That’s it, we are going to have to live with that. We’ve said what we are going to say now.
“You are right to ask the question today but moving forward, it is pointless me going into any further detail on that.”
What are the origins of taking a knee?
The kneeling protest was first staged in 2016 by Colin Kaepernick, the now former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who knelt during the US national anthem to protest police brutality.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour,” Kaepernick said at the time.
The gesture became more widespread as the Black Lives Matter movement gathered pace following the murder of George Floyd on 25 May 2020.
Floyd’s death sparked protests around the globe and, in a sporting context, athletes across a variety of sports opted to take a knee before fixtures, with Premier League and Championship matches doing so ahead of kick-off since last July.
Some clubs and players have since stopped the gesture, with talks expected to take place this summer regarding whether players will take a knee in the 2021-22 campaign.
Rashford: It’s the right thing
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, who has been a tireless campaigner for the free school meals campaign, captained England in their friendly against Romania and scored the winner from the penalty spot.
With boos before kick-off overshadowing the game, the 23-year-old said after full-time that the squad continue to believe taking a knee is the right thing to do.
On the boos, Rashford said, “It’s something that we can’t control,” before adding: “For us we believe it’s the right thing to do so we’re going to continue to do it.”
After the Austria match, Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish told fans that England’s players do not want to hear them booing when they take the knee before matches.
“I was obviously aware of it, I heard it. I didn’t like it at all,” he told Sky Sports. “None of the players like it.
“I think that will get talked about in the next few days. It’s a thing we don’t want in football in general and especially in our England games.”
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said some England supporters booing the gesture is evidence of “a problem” the squad must continue fighting and stand against.
“If there’s still people booing because we’re standing together against racism, then there really still is a problem and we’ve still got to fight it and stand together on that,” Henderson said.
“It shows even more that we have to keep going, keep fighting it. From our side, it’s about being together and doing what we think is right – and that’s what we feel is right.
“I think, as players, we’ve made it very clear that we all stand together against racism. That’s the reason that we continue to take the knee, and have done over the last few weeks. I think the lads are starting to feel like they don’t really want to talk about it anymore.
“Of course, everyone knows we stand together and you’ll see that in taking the knee, but we want to get on with the football and concentrate on that. That’s our focus.”
Mings: We should never give up
Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings has been one of the most vocal Premier League figures this past year with regards to taking a knee.
Earlier this season the centre-back said he respected Wilfried Zaha’s decision to stop taking a knee – the Crystal Palace winger called it “degrading” – but Mings does not believe the gesture has lost its power.
“We have said all that we can say as players and whether that message gets through to the minority or not is something we should not ever give up on – trying to get that message across,” Mings said.
“But at the same time, there is a time and a place for it. I have spoken on the topic so many times and will continue to do so.
“It is not a problem that we have to keep forcing upon people to distract from us preparing for a major tournament.”
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