Millwall and QPR players will link arms in ‘a show of solidarity’ before their Championship clash at The Den on Tuesday.
A section of Millwall fans booed both sets of players on Saturday before the match with Derby as they knelt before kick-off in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
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It sparked anger among the football world, not least from Millwall right-back Mahlon Romeo, who admitted he felt disrespected and offended by the actions of his own supporters.
The Millwall Supporters Club claimed that the boos were in response to the political views associated with Black Lives Matter.
Derby coach Liam Rosenior hit back and said that taking a knee has always been a peaceful gesture to call for equality and to end racial discrimination – rather than any player promoting a political viewpoint.
He told talkSPORT: “I take a knee because I want to see every member of our society treated equally. That shouldn’t even be an argument.”
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Millwall’s next home game comes just days after the incident and the club have confirmed that the two teams will make a show of solidarity.
In a statement on their official website, Millwall said: “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.”
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Millwall will also have the Kick It Out logo on their shirts for the match instead of that of their principal partner Huski Chocolate.
The statement continued: “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.”
Millwall also said they had started an “audit of board members, staff, volunteers and participants as part of an ongoing commitment towards equality, diversity and inclusion in all areas of operations.”
The club added: “An internal survey has been sent to all appropriate stakeholders and its findings will allow the club to set necessary benchmarks as part of a new widespread and multi-faceted anti-discrimination strategy.
“Included within that will be the formation of an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Code of Practice to cover departments throughout the club’s activities and recruitment processes.”
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