QPR players celebrate goal against Millwall by taking knee in front of home fans
Posted Wednesday, December 09, 2020 by Dailystar.co.uk
Millwall hit the headlines on Saturday after their fans booed when players took a knee as they fought against racism
QPR players took a knee in front of Millwall supporters (Image: Getty Images)
QPR players celebrated a goal by taking a knee in front of Millwall fans.
The Hoops took the lead in the 53rd minute in their game at The Den when Ilias Chair fired home.
Members of the QPR team then ran to the 2,000-strong home support - and took a knee.
The celebration came after Millwall fans booed the pre-match anti-racism kneeling on Saturday before their game against Derby.
Ahead of the game against QPR, Millwall players stood arm-in-arm with their opponents in a show of solidarity.
Ilias Chair (right) takes a knee alongside Bright Osayi-Samuel (Image: PA)
There were no boos ahead of Tuesday's match.
Instead, the linking of arms was met with cheers from the crowd.
The Football Association have launched an investigation into the matter on Saturday - but the club will be delighted to see no booing from the crowd this evening.
A statement released by Millwall ahead of the game read: "Players from Millwall and Queens Park Rangers 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.
Chair celebrates his goal against Millwall (Image: Michael Zemanek/BPI/REX/Shutterstock)
He then took a knee in front of the Millwall fans (Image: Michael Zemanek/BPI/REX/Shutterstock)
"The two teams will hold aloft a banner to show their collective commitment towards ongoing efforts to rid the game of racism in a positive move which has been supported by Kick It Out, Show Racism The Red Card, The PFA, The FA and The EFL following discussions with the club in recent days.
"Millwall believe that this gesture, which the club hopes to repeat with other visiting teams in the coming weeks and months, will help to unify people throughout society in the battle to root out all forms of discrimination.
"Kick It Out's logo will also replace that of principal partner Huski Chocolate on the front of Millwall's shirts for the London derby.
The players stood arm-in-arm before the game began
"QPR have informed Millwall that a selection of their players wish to take the knee as a way of showing their support for anti-discrimination efforts - a gesture which the club respects and it firmly asks all those in attendance to do likewise.
"Millwall have a zero-tolerance policy against racial and all other forms of discrimination and want to again make clear to anybody who holds such views that you are not welcome at this football club. Millwall's stance, as always, is that anybody found guilty of racial abuse is banned for life."
QPR Chief executive 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 (after QPR did not take a knee ahead of their game against Coventry), 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."
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