NOTTINGHAM FOREST’S Lyle Taylor has spoken of his doubts in regards to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) campaign.
Players from Sheffield United and Aston Villa became the first to take a knee as English football returned in June and it sent a powerful anti-racism message. Players continue to take the knee in protest but Taylor refuses to do so claiming that the meaning of kneeling has been lost and that has been the case for months.
Taylor, formerly with Charlton, told BBC Radio Nottingham after his team’s win against Cardiff City over the weekend: “My support for what is that we’re trying to achieve is absolute, but I do not support Black Lives Matter as an institution or organisation.
“I would request anyone looks into Black Lives Matter to look into what that organisation does and what they stand for because it’s scandalous that the world and the world’s media has got behind Black Lives Matter.
“Not the message, of course black lives matter. Standing behind Black Lives Matter and the all the institutions that have done that – the BBC, Sky, all of them saying Black Lives Matter, it’s not a good idea because of what the organisation stands for.
“The message overall is 100 percent important, don’t get me wrong on that. You see what is happening – I’m not going into my beliefs into what went on in the Capitol building this week because I’ve done my fair amount of research into it.
“In terms of black lives actually mattering and black people being killed by police more frequently, that’s not a good thing.
“Black lives do matter, but you’ll never hear me say Black Lives Matter again in reference to that company.”
Players from QPR stopped taking a knee earlier this season following Director of Football Les Ferdinand’s comments that the action had been “diluted.”
Speaking ahead of their trip to Millwall, QPR boss Mark Warburton echoed Ferdinand’s calls for “positive action”, rather than “gestures.”
Taking the knee has not sat comfortably with some other members of the football fraternity.
Millwall said they were “dismayed and saddened” by events which marred their game against Derby County at The Den last month.
Sections of the crowd booed as players took the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign.
In a statement the south London team said: “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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I am pleased to witness the courage shown by some footballers by not taking the knee. I believe their reasons are more noble, respectful and effective than the sheep who perform a gesture and that therefore clears their conscience. No gestures or lapel pins do anything to change the hearts and minds of racists. In fact such gestures are arguably counter-productive. It’s interesting that White footballers didn’t take the lead. Could it be they feared being called racist? If so, it would suggest they feel pressured to make a gesture that they aren’t fully comfortable with. We must be careful we don’t pull the covers over racism and make claims we are moving in the right direction. Football governing bodies, in particular, have a long history of hiding from problems by hiding the problems.
My problems with taking the knee are
1. BLM is a political movement which is not appropriate for football
2. BLM has had stated goals like “defund the police” which I’m sure most people disagree with.
3. The posture itself can feel degrading – like one is signaling subservience. Rather than say clapping or whatever.
4. People are being effectively forced to do it, whether they agree with it or not by severe peer-pressure.
5. Kick Racism Out of Football was enough as it is.
6. We’ve done it now. It’s not the only issue on the world worth highlighting and we can’t keep doing it forever.