Sky Sports analyst Jobi McAnuff has criticised Millwall boss Gary Rowett for his response to fans booing Fulham players taking the knee.
McAnuff, who played for various clubs in the English Championship as well as in the Premier League with Reading, was speaking after Fulham's win at The Den - a game marred by the home supporters' decision to boo the visitors when they made the anti-racism gesture before kick-off.
Millwall players decided last December to stop taking the knee, the gesture had been booed previously by their own supporters, and now they stand - some with a fist in the air - while the opposition players take the knee.
Wycombe Wanderers' Fred Onyedinma (centre) takes a knee during the Sky Bet Championship match at The Den, London. Picture date: Saturday February 20, 2021."I don't think we can be any clearer in terms of the messaging behind taking a knee and what it represents. It's the fight against racism and discrimination. It's that simple," McAnuff told Sky Sports after the game.
"When somebody decides to make a racist tweet or shout racist abuse at somebody, that's a decision. These fans at this football club are making a decision to boo the players taking a knee.
"For me, there's no other explanation anymore other than they're opposing equality and that's as simple as it is."
🗣 "You're the manager of a football club, you might say you can't control what a fan does but what you can do is condemn it in the strongest possible terms"
Jobi McAnuff is disappointed Gary Rowett did not condemn fans who booed players taking the knee before Millwall vs Fulham pic.twitter.com/BjWpFlNnFi— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 18, 2021
In his post-match interview, Rowett chose not to condemn the fans for booing and instead claimed that footballing authorities need to come up with "a more positive way of making some form of action".
McAnuff expressed disappointment with the Millwall manager's reaction.
"Yes, you're the manager of a football club and might say you can't control what a fan does when they come in," responded McAnuff.
"But what you can do as the figurehead is condemn it in the strongest possible terms. That is what I would have liked to have seen. That is why I'm disappointed."
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