Question Time: Taking the knee is ‘symbol not action’ says guest

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Oliver Brown, The Telegraph’s chief sport writer, said he does not believe the gesture had an impact. The Prime Minister said yesterday England fans should “cheer, not boo” their players for taking the knee.

Speaking to host Kirsty Wark, Mr Brown stated he felt the “consistent repetition” is not “magnifying the significance of the gesture”.

He said: “ This is not just the commentariat saying this, it’s celebrated black players like Les Ferdinand who worried earlier this year it was becoming a bit like ‘Clap for Carers’, in that it was originally something very well intentioned but lost its impact the more it was repeated.”

Ms Wark interjected and asked whether “the shock is that it hasn’t made difference to the footballing hierarchy”, stating it could be an “appalling indictment of English football”.

Mr Brown continued: “It’s pretty much what I expected. I think there is an obsession in sport, in football in particular, with gestures.

“This particular gesture [taking the knee] is just not resonating I don’t believe.”

READ MORE: Don’t boo! Boris tells England fans not to jeer players taking knee

Referencing the England vs Romania friendly match at the Riverside Stadium last week, Mr Brown said taking the knee is “proving polarising”.

He added: “I was at Middlesborough the other day.

“There were only 8,000 in the group, the booing was loud, it was sustained, and it makes you wonder what would happen if there was 80,000.

“I think the argument about Black Lives Matter has passed – no one in all good conscious can claim that the England players are foot soldiers for the Black Lives Matter movement.”

Ms Wark pointed out taking the knee is a “broader thing” for England football players, but asked whether there is “absolutely no excuse” for booing.

Mr Brown concluded: “I think you have to be quite careful in answering it because I don’t believe everyone booing was an irredeemable racist.

“Some of them undoubtedly are, but I think there are other problems in that some people perceive this as an import from America.”

Mickey Ambrose, former Chelsea FC player and Ambassador for HRH Royal Family Charities, said the gesture is a stance against governing bodies not acting on the issue.

“There is racism in football and in society,” he said.

“It is very difficult for each individual, but it is a personal choice to be frank.”

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Ms Wark then asked if there was a danger the gesture “just becomes a thing”, to which Mr Ambrose disagreed.

He added: “I think there is a danger, but if you flip it around, what has the FA done? What have the Governing bodies done? What have the Government done about racism in football?

“Taking the knee, they’re fighting against the system aren’t they? Sexism, homophobia, you’re fighting against the system. Whether you’re black or white, and you’re taking the knee, you’re doing it for a reason.

“If you don’t take the knee, it doesn’t mean you’re a racist.

“I just want to see governing bodies doing more about racism.

“What black players have contributed to football in this country is amazing, but it’s not replicated in the board room.”

The Prime Minister gave his backing to England’s football team taking the knee, and urged supporters not to boo them yesterday.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister “respects the right of all people to peacefully protest”.

A spokesman added: “The Prime Minister wants to see everyone getting behind the team to cheer them on and not boo.”

However, Education minister Gillian Keegan told BBC’s Question Time: “There are some Conservative MPs (that) are very much against it, why?

“Because Black Lives Matter stands for things that they don’t stand for.

“It’s really about defunding the police and the overthrow of capitalism, which is, you know, Black Lives Matter – the actual political organisation.”

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