In the work I do a lot of people say this to be fair. It’s just doesn’t make good news. You’ve got to ask why this isn’t reported.
"Gillingham chief Paul Scally fears that the kneeling gesture is "irritating" normal, non-racist fans and called for it to be brought to an end." https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/amp/football-boss-wants-end-of-taking-the-knee-248730/
It's obvious that that's exactly what it's doing . . . . not a hint of racism, folk are just sick of the nonsensical stupidity of continuing to irritate ordinary people and encouraging some to boo when they ordinarily wouldn't Unfortunately, because of the continuance of this futile gesture, the original, well meaning, message is lost (it was lost a long time ago).
The worst of it is your meaningless, and slightly cowardly, post tbh ... ... no attempt at debate, just a stupid little dig. People are discussing a highly topical and emotive subject without resorting to cheap digs, until you showed up.
This is all becoming really messy now and turning into a needless 'us and them' situation. There's now an Irish player asking for UEFA action and the national manager stating people are racist because they don't want to see kneeling and booed it. If teams insist on kneeling they'll end up in a trap of their own making and one they'll struggle to find a way out of. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57408558.amp
Said I wouldn't post on this thread again but reading this shows they are trying to tar those who disagree with this cause as racists, which imo was the aim from day one.
In my view it's relatively simple to step back from taking the knee, well for football in this country anyway. Once the euro's are over the FA, EFL, Premier League, PFA etc just need to make a joint statement that they have now made their point and that they will concentrate on challenging racism on a daily basis in everything they do. They launch a joint initiative with say Show Racism the Red Card encouraging players, officials and supporters to call racism out. Bring education in through training academies, foundations and supporters association. It's not a sprint it's a marathon which unfortunately isn't very glamorous but you are not going to change things overnight it will take generations
John Barnes makes some really good observations in a piece for sport bible, sorry I have no idea how to post a link. I like him and his level headed approach to racism, last summer he said associating racism with football is the wrong road to go down and that has been proved correct with the reaction of some supporters. I have read his reports on this for a while now and he really has got a grasp on it, he has experienced racism when it was probably at its peak and has both the experience and level head to gauge what is actually racism and how we could continue to address it. People like him should be asked to contribute more instead of some of the drivel spouted by Sky pundits who are at times out of their depth when discussing racism.
Spot on mate. It's not doing anything other than being divisive,but,as per,anyone who says it is described as a racist by those who don't actually know what racism is. I've always considered kneeling as indicating subservience.....something which seems to have bypassed a lot of the so-called equality brigade.
Makes you wonder how many black folk, on and off the pitch, are against bending the knee. It'll not just be other races being pressured into doing it, there'll be black people being afraid to counter it as well.
I like the Scotish approach which could be extended, "Stand up to Racism " first whistle stand for 15 seconds second whistle prepare to start game. It's a visual condemnation of Racism and directs the mind away from political undertones.
Not in this case though. Originally Colin Kaepernick sat on the bench rather stand for the US national anthem as he "refused to show pride in a nation that oppressed black people and people of colour". This was considered to be disrespectful to US military veterans (I'm not entirely sure why) so in order to not be disrespectful to them, he started going down on one knee during the national anthem. It was then adopted by other people in solidarity with him and his cause. I think the problem with all of this is that, whether you're for or against taking the knee, people don't really understand the other side's (usually fairly valid unless people are against it because they're racist) argument. That's one of the biggest problems in society at the moment, views are so polarised on things that people just cannot meet in the middle.
What baffles me is are they planning on doing this for ever? If not it has to stop sometime, I would suggest now before it gets really messy and it will probably during the euros.
I really do understand both sides and agree with both. I don't agree with the kneeling. I don't agree with racism of any kind. The current problem is that the Colin Kapernick gesture was little known and little used. The current kneeling is copying the protests at the scene of George Floyd's death. The was a protest about the 'racist' murder and was taken up here by the BLM, PL, etc. That's what it's inextricably linked with and why it's inappropriate in the UK. Do you believe the USA would ever have all these protests if it was an English fella?
Maybe you do understand it but Gareth Southgate etc don't understand why you don't agree with taking the knee. They think anyone who disagrees with the gesture is a racist, which we know isn't necessarily true. All sorts of very important causes, from racism to homophobia to transphobia, appear to attract some quite extreme views. The people who hold those views assert that views assert that if you don't agree with you must be racist/homophobic/transphobic. What there needs to be is more debate about why people hold the views that they do, that way everyone could make some progress.
John Barnes, not always been a fan of him in the past tbh., but he made some very good points on this issue on Today BBC R4 this morning very much in line with what you are saying. .
IIRC it was originally said to be only for the last 12 games of 2020 season ( in premiership 2 games where 4 teams played a game in hand , then a full day of 10 fixtures)