Post by sharky on Dec 8, 2020 22:51:55 GMT
Some time ago the QPR players, with the backing of the Club, decided not to take a knee before the start of games because it had lost its intended meaning. Last night taking the knee had become important again and our players took a knee in the face of possible booing by Millwall fans. The Millwall fans cheered rather than booing. Once again we a leaders for change. Well done my team!
www.qpr.co.uk/news/club-news/club-statement-millwall-v-qpr/
7th December 2020
Club statement: Millwall v QPR
PLAYERS from Millwall and QPR will stand arm-in-arm with each other in a show of solidarity for football’s fight against discrimination ahead of kick-off at The Den on Tuesday night.
The two teams will hold aloft a banner to show their collective commitment towards ongoing efforts to rid the game of racism following discussions with Millwall, Kick It Out, Show Racism The Red Card, The PFA, The FA and The EFL.
QPR have informed Millwall that a selection of our players also wish to take the knee as a way of showing their support for anti-discrimination efforts.
It was agreed that standing shoulder to shoulder with our opposition players would be a more powerful response.
LEE HOOS
This gesture is being respected by Millwall, and the Lions have firmly asked all those in attendance to do likewise.
QPR CEO Lee Hoos said: “We have always been at the forefront of encouraging equality and diversity while tackling discrimination in all its forms.
“Our initial approach to this particular situation was for all our players to take the knee in a show of solidarity.
“However, following a series of discussions with Millwall, as well as internal conversations involving myself, Director of Football Les Ferdinand, manager Mark Warburton and the entire first team squad, it was agreed that standing shoulder to shoulder with our opposition players would be a more powerful response.
“On top of this, some of our players wish to take the knee and we fully support this action.
“As I said in September on this subject, each individual needs to be free to make their own decision on how to express intolerance for social injustice, without fear of being negatively judged.
www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/millwall-fans-the-den-qpr-anti-racism-banner-take-the-knee-b224483.html
Millwall fans applaud QPR players who took the knee after anti-racism banner show of unity
Millwall and QPR players were cheered at The Den on Tuesday night as they held up a banner to show their collective commitment for fighting racism and inequality in football, while those who took the knee were also applauded.
The scenes were in contrast to those on Saturday at The Den, when Derby County and Millwall players were booed for taking a knee.
In the wake of that match, Millwall and QPR agreed they would link arms before kick-off on Tuesday as an alternative anti-racism message.
The gesture of linking arms was agreed by Millwall and QPR on Monday after crisis talks were held between the clubs, Kick It Out, Show Racism the Red Card, the PFA, the FA and the EFL.
Players were still able to take the knee if they wished before kick-off at The Den on Tuesday and those from QPR did. Unlike on Saturday, however, they were not loudly booed by those at The Den.
Before kick-off, those 2,000 fans at The Den on Tuesday night were handed a letter by the club explaining “the eyes of the world are on this football club tonight.”
The statement added: “This is one of the most important days in Millwall’s history.
“Last night, the club released a statement announcing its new United For Change initiative. Lions fans from all over the world were unanimous in their support.
“It is your duty and responsibility as a member of the crowd tonight to continue that superb backing.
“Before kick-off, our players and those from QPR will link arms in a show of unity and togetherness towards the fight against discrimination.
“We know that the crowd, as has always been the case, will be fully supportive of that gesture.
“As was also made clear last night, we ask that those opposition players taking the knee are respected, as it is their right to do so.
“The eyes of the world are on this football club tonight - your club - and they want us to fail.
“Together as one, we will not let that happen.”
Before kick-off midfielder Jed Wallace told Sky Sports: “It is important we show as a football club that we are united against all forms of discrimination from the players, the fans, the manager, the CEO and the chairman.
“We are showing a united message along with QPR that we want to move forward in a positive light and put out as clear a message as we can that, of course at this stadium, and all football stadiums around the world, we are completely against all racism within and out of sport.
“Hopefully tonight we will show that message loud and clear.”
Some Millwall fans had previously claimed their boos during the match with Derby were not protesting against the anti-discrimination message, but the politicisation of the Black Lives Matter movement in the UK.
www.qpr.co.uk/news/club-news/club-statement-millwall-v-qpr/
7th December 2020
Club statement: Millwall v QPR
PLAYERS from Millwall and QPR will stand arm-in-arm with each other in a show of solidarity for football’s fight against discrimination ahead of kick-off at The Den on Tuesday night.
The two teams will hold aloft a banner to show their collective commitment towards ongoing efforts to rid the game of racism following discussions with Millwall, Kick It Out, Show Racism The Red Card, The PFA, The FA and The EFL.
QPR have informed Millwall that a selection of our players also wish to take the knee as a way of showing their support for anti-discrimination efforts.
It was agreed that standing shoulder to shoulder with our opposition players would be a more powerful response.
LEE HOOS
This gesture is being respected by Millwall, and the Lions have firmly asked all those in attendance to do likewise.
QPR CEO Lee Hoos said: “We have always been at the forefront of encouraging equality and diversity while tackling discrimination in all its forms.
“Our initial approach to this particular situation was for all our players to take the knee in a show of solidarity.
“However, following a series of discussions with Millwall, as well as internal conversations involving myself, Director of Football Les Ferdinand, manager Mark Warburton and the entire first team squad, it was agreed that standing shoulder to shoulder with our opposition players would be a more powerful response.
“On top of this, some of our players wish to take the knee and we fully support this action.
“As I said in September on this subject, each individual needs to be free to make their own decision on how to express intolerance for social injustice, without fear of being negatively judged.
www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/millwall-fans-the-den-qpr-anti-racism-banner-take-the-knee-b224483.html
Millwall fans applaud QPR players who took the knee after anti-racism banner show of unity
Millwall and QPR players were cheered at The Den on Tuesday night as they held up a banner to show their collective commitment for fighting racism and inequality in football, while those who took the knee were also applauded.
The scenes were in contrast to those on Saturday at The Den, when Derby County and Millwall players were booed for taking a knee.
In the wake of that match, Millwall and QPR agreed they would link arms before kick-off on Tuesday as an alternative anti-racism message.
The gesture of linking arms was agreed by Millwall and QPR on Monday after crisis talks were held between the clubs, Kick It Out, Show Racism the Red Card, the PFA, the FA and the EFL.
Players were still able to take the knee if they wished before kick-off at The Den on Tuesday and those from QPR did. Unlike on Saturday, however, they were not loudly booed by those at The Den.
Before kick-off, those 2,000 fans at The Den on Tuesday night were handed a letter by the club explaining “the eyes of the world are on this football club tonight.”
The statement added: “This is one of the most important days in Millwall’s history.
“Last night, the club released a statement announcing its new United For Change initiative. Lions fans from all over the world were unanimous in their support.
“It is your duty and responsibility as a member of the crowd tonight to continue that superb backing.
“Before kick-off, our players and those from QPR will link arms in a show of unity and togetherness towards the fight against discrimination.
“We know that the crowd, as has always been the case, will be fully supportive of that gesture.
“As was also made clear last night, we ask that those opposition players taking the knee are respected, as it is their right to do so.
“The eyes of the world are on this football club tonight - your club - and they want us to fail.
“Together as one, we will not let that happen.”
Before kick-off midfielder Jed Wallace told Sky Sports: “It is important we show as a football club that we are united against all forms of discrimination from the players, the fans, the manager, the CEO and the chairman.
“We are showing a united message along with QPR that we want to move forward in a positive light and put out as clear a message as we can that, of course at this stadium, and all football stadiums around the world, we are completely against all racism within and out of sport.
“Hopefully tonight we will show that message loud and clear.”
Some Millwall fans had previously claimed their boos during the match with Derby were not protesting against the anti-discrimination message, but the politicisation of the Black Lives Matter movement in the UK.
