The decision by the England football squad to “take the knee” was a landmark in recognising that racism is a pernicious blight on the game. The England football team has debated walking off the pitch rather than putting up with abuse. Footballers in Euro 2020 ought to be congratulated for pre-match kneeling to show their opposition to racism. On Monday, No 10 failed to condemn “football fans” who boo players taking the knee. This month, in a major European tournament, footballers will shift dissidence from the periphery of British life to primetime television with a single gesture.

Source: The Guardian June 07, 2021 18:22 UTC