Millwall fans celebrated their return to The Dunn on Saturday by booing players ahead of the game against Derby. When both groups of players fell to the ground to send an anti-racist message, there were complaints heard from the stands, in which members of the public participated for the first time in nearly nine months.

There were concerns ahead of the match that Millwall fans would take such action, as the players and management assured that they would continue to take the knee regardless. Some club supporters have called on the team to stop making such a statement due to its links to important black lives and politicization.

“We fully support efforts to rid sport and society of all forms of discrimination. It is our duty to reinforce positive messages. For us, the kneeling does not in any way represent any agreement with political or ideological messages. It is only about addressing discrimination,” a club statement said before the match. .

Two thousand fans were allowed to attend the match in London, although the extra fans were not allowed to travel to the match. This is the first time since a change of government guidelines that viewers are allowed to view elite sport in person.

The actions of the fans have been criticized by anyone, including former West Ham and England winger Trevor Sinclair, who tweeted: “The reality is that Millwall fans booed the players as they kick the knee does not surprise many !!!”

Former Nottingham Forest and Cardiff player Greg Halford said, “What I see in the Millwall game. The players rode and 2000 fans booed. [sic] You have to be strong and take serious action against it. Every time I play there I hear some form of racial abuse, it should stop. “

Soccer players have begun to kneel since returning to play after the cessation of the Covid virus imposed earlier this year between March and June in order to raise awareness of inequality in society. After the death of George Floyd in America. Players also wore the Black Lives Matter logo on their shirts.

The NFL has allowed players and teams to make their decision on whether or not to take the knee. Championship clubs QPR and Coventry decided not to continue with this initiative.