Former England manager Gareth Southgate has defended the team’s decision to kneel during Euro 2020, although he admitted it had “alienated” some people.
Hint, popularized by NFL player Colin Kaepernick In solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, players kneel on one knee and Gained importance The following The killing of George Floyd in 2020.
While it was widely praised, some criticized it as an unnecessary “political gesture”, with a section of fans booing during matches. Politicians including Preeti Patel also condemned it.
Southgate has previously stated that the act was not specifically associated with Black Lives Matter, but rather symbolized a broader stance against racism. At the time, he wrote an open letter to fans outlining the team’s values and expectations for the nation.
“It was the result of an interview I gave, where I was asked about my feelings about being English, my thoughts about what we are as a country,” he said in an interview. Explained. for Desert Island Discus.
“And it was also definitely a moment where we experienced some racism as a team, for example.
“We played in Bulgaria, and I felt we dealt with that night as well as a group, the lead and what happened that night.
“I felt we supported the players better than in the past.”
He explained that this decision was not forced. “Before the Euros, we had an extensive discussion as a team about whether we should listen to the knee and the players’ views.”
However, he admitted that there has been a mixed response. The team continued the gesture before subsequent matches, including during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“Of course, as many people come up to me and thank me for that, we and I, the strangers who supported me before.
“But I felt it was an important message to the youth of our country, to people of all communities, because this shirt is about our whole country and every community, and I think we’re more about the communities than the team. It’s starting to add up. That’s what happened in the past.”
Southgate has previously said the decision to kneel was an attempt to speak more openly about racism.
At the time he admitted he had once scolded England player Danny Rose without realizing he had endured 90 minutes of abuse.