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Millwall players to link arms with opponents rather than take a knee

Fans at The Lions' game on Saturday booed as players from the home team and Derby took the knee before kick-off.

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 05: Colin Kazim-Richards of Derby County raises his right fist during the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Derby County at The Den on December 05, 2020 in London, England. A limited number of fans are welcomed back to stadiums to watch elite football across England. This was following easing of restrictions on spectators in tiers one and two areas only. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Getty Images)
Image: Colin Kazim-Richards of Derby County raises his right fist during the booing
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Millwall players will link arms with opponents Queens Park Rangers at The Den on Tuesday night following the booing controversy on Saturday.

Boos rung out around the southeast London team's stadium as players took the knee in solidarity against racism.

Millwall have since said they were "dismayed and saddened" at the actions of the fans, who were watching their first game at the stadium in months.

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Millwall fans boo as players take the knee

In a statement released on Monday night, the club outlined their plan for the next game.

They said: "Players from Millwall and Queens Park Rangers will stand arm-in-arm with each other in a show of solidarity for football's fight against discrimination ahead of kick-off at The Den on Tuesday night.

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"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."

Millwall added that the Kick It Out logo will take the place of the main sponsor Huski Chocolate on the team's jersey.

Following the cacophony at the start of the fixture on Saturday, Derby striker Colin Kazim-Richards - who had stood with a raised fist as players took the knee - branded the booing an "absolute disgrace".

Foreign Office minister James Cleverly said earlier on Monday that he would be "uncomfortable" about action being taken against the booing fans, although he added that the act was "wrong".

The statement from The Den went on: "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.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 13: General view outside the Den, the stadium of Millwall FC, as all Football league matches are postponed until April 3rd due to the Coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic at The Den on March 13, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)
Image: The next game at The Den will see Millwall and their opponents link arms

"Millwall's stance, as always, is that anybody found guilty of racial abuse is banned for life.

"Moving forward, the club and its Community Trust have started the first-ever audit of board members, staff, volunteers and participants as part of an ongoing commitment towards equality, diversity and inclusion in all areas of operations.

"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.

"On top of a push towards ensuring the entire Millwall workforce is fully representative of its diverse local community, the trust will continue their outstanding and industry-leading work around anti-discrimination within the boroughs of Southwark, Lewisham and, most importantly, further afield.

"This will still include programmes and projects within primary and secondary schools and colleges as education, the club believes, is the most important driver in ridding society of discrimination of all kinds."