Jordan Henderson weighs in on England fans booing ahead of Euro 2020

Posted Wednesday, June 09, 2021 by Express.co.uk

Jordan Henderson has spoken out after England fans booed the players taking the knee before kick-off in their recent friendlies.

Booing players taking the knee before kick off will only make England players fight harder against the racist bigots. Jordan Henderson was on the bench when the gesture was met with jeers by a section of the crowd on Sunday for a second time at the Riverside in a week.

But he says the dressing room is united in its determination to continue supporting the “Black Lives Matter” movement.

"I think it shows that, 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.

"As players, we've made it very clear that we all stand together against racism.

Jordan Henderson weighs in on England fans booing ahead of Euro 2020
Jordan Henderson insists England will continue to take the knee before their Euro 2020 matches (Image: GETTY)

"That's the reason that we continue to take the knee, and have done over the last few weeks.”

Exasperated centre-back Tyrone Mings, though, has given up on any change of attitude before England's next home international.

"The lads are starting to feel like they don't really want to talk about it anymore,” Mings said.

"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."

"No message I give you now is going to stop them, is what I am saying.

"You would hope by educating these people, some day they will understand why it is that we are taking a knee.

"But four or five days before a major tournament, I don't want to get caught up on whether or not we should.”

Southgate has previously said: “I heard it, and it's not something on behalf of our black players that I wanted to hear because it feels as though it's a criticism of them.

"I think we have got a situation where some people seem to think it's a political stand that they don't agree with.

Jordan Henderson weighs in on England fans booing ahead of Euro 2020
Jordan Henderson is hoping to star for England when the tournament kicks off on Friday (Image: GETTY)

"That's not the reason that the players are doing it, we're supporting each other.

"So, I was pleased that that was drowned out by the majority of the crowd, but we can't deny the fact that it happened.

"The most important thing for our players to know is that all their team-mates, all the staff are fully supportive.

"I think the majority of people understand it, I think some people aren't quite understanding the message, and I suppose we're seeing that across a number of football grounds at the moment.”