'DISMAYED'
Millwall condemn fans booing after stars take knee as Agbonlahor claims he was racially abused by 12-year-old at The Den
MILLWALL have condemned their own supporters who booed the players taking a knee.
It came as Gabby Agbonlahor revealed he was racially abused by a 12-year-old at The Den as the Lions' fanbase came under criticism again.
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On the day 2,000 home fans were allowed back in at Millwall, many overshadowed the occasion by verbalising their disgust at the taking of a knee.
Players continue to use the gesture before kick-offs to highlight the ongoing fight to eradicate racial discrimination in society - although some clubs distanced themselves from supporting the Black Lives Matter movement directly for political reasons.
The booing at The Den took place just a day after Millwall had released a statement, signalling their intentions to keep taking a knee before matches until they unveil 'a new and comprehensive anti-discrimination strategy' in the New Year.
And almost 24 hours after the incident ahead of the 1-0 defeat to Wayne Rooney's men, Millwall hit out at their own supporters who 'marred' the day.
A club statement said: "Millwall Football Club was dismayed and saddened by events which marred Saturday’s game against Derby County at The Den.
"The club has worked tirelessly in recent months to prepare for the return of supporters and what should have been a positive and exciting occasion was completely overshadowed, much to the immense disappointment and upset of those who have contributed to those efforts.
"The impact of such incidents is felt not just by the players and management, but by those who work throughout the club and in its Academy and Community Trust, where so many staff and volunteers continue passionate endeavours to enhance Millwall’s reputation day after day, year after year.
"The club will not allow their fine work to be in vain.
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"The players are continuing to use the biggest platform they have to support the drive for change, not just in football but in society generally.
"There is much work to be done and at Millwall everyone is committed to doing all that is possible, both individually and collectively, to be a force for good and to ensure that the club remains at the forefront of football’s anti-discrimination efforts."
Millwall added that club representatives will meet with anti-racism football organisation Kick It Out.
Aston Villa hero Agbonhalor recalled his disgusting experience at the South London stadium - and insisted if he was a Millwall player today he would refuse to play for the club again.
He told : "I’m not surprised to be honest.
“If there was one stadium where I would say this would have happened with fans going back in, it is exactly this stadium.
“Because when I played there, I was on the bench for an FA Cup game, and I was racially abused by 12-year-olds to 70-year-olds whilst I’m warming up.
“At the time I’m just looking at them like, ‘Why?’ I was just laughing at them.
“You know that swearing at a player is normal – you get that at every away ground you go to. But to bring race into it shows what sort of fans some of their fans are."
Millwall's Mahlon Romero blasted his club's fans for disrespecting him.
He said: "What they've done is booed and condemned a peaceful gesture which was put in place to highlight, combat and stop any discriminatory behaviour and racism. That's it - that's all that gesture is.
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"It has offended me and everyone who works for this club - the players and the staff.
"I'm almost lost for words. I don't know how they thought that would make me feel. I don't know what they thought taking a knee stood for."
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Full Millwall Statement
MILLWALL Football Club was dismayed and saddened by events which marred Saturday’s game against Derby County at The Den.
The club has worked tirelessly in recent months to prepare for the return of supporters and what should have been a positive and exciting occasion was completely overshadowed, much to the immense disappointment and upset of those who have contributed to those efforts.
The impact of such incidents is felt not just by the players and management, but by those who work throughout the club and in its Academy and Community Trust, where so many staff and volunteers continue passionate endeavours to enhance Millwall’s reputation day after day, year after year.
The club will not allow their fine work to be in vain.
The players are continuing to use the biggest platform they have to support the drive for change, not just in football but in society generally.
There is much work to be done and at Millwall everyone is committed to doing all that is possible, both individually and collectively, to be a force for good and to ensure that the club remains at the forefront of football’s anti-discrimination efforts.
Over the coming days, club, Academy and Community Trust staff will meet with Kick It Out and representatives from other appropriate bodies in an attempt to use Saturday’s events as a catalyst for more rapid solutions which have an impact both in the short and long-term.
Further comment will be made once those meetings and discussions are concluded.
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