The club are furious with coverage of their game against QPR
Millwall are reportedly trying to block Sky Sports from covering their Championship fixture against Watford on December 29th.
The club recently received heavy criticism after supporters booed players taking the knee against Derby County.
In a statement, Millwall did reiterate their commitment to anti-racism, but stopped short of actually condemning fans who booed the gesture.
Taking the knee was popularised by NFL star Colin Kaepernick as a protest against racism and discrimination. Kaepernick kneeled during the US national anthem as a form of protest against institutionalised racism.
The gesture began to catch on in the UK as a result of global anti-racism protests following the death of George Floyd. In Britain, taking the knee has also become synonymous with the Black Lives Matter movement.
Millwall abandoned the gesture in their following game against QPR, and instead linked arms around the centre circle. The Lions’ response to the issue was mocked by QPR players Ilias Chair and Bright Osayi-Samuel, who took a knee with a raised fist in front of Millwall fans when Chair put Mark Warburton’s men 1-0 up.
QPR players Ilias Chair and Bright Osayi-Samuel take the knee after scoring at The Den. (Photo: Getty)While Millwall’s game against Watford is set to be shown live on Sky Sports, the home side are reportedly trying to stop that from happening.
The Athletic write that the game “is at risk as the hosts are looking to block the broadcaster from showing the game at The Den”.
According to the London Evening Standard, the club are furious with the way Sky covered the game against QPR. Talk before kick-off was dominated by discussions of whether or not Millwall players would take the knee, even though the club insist they had told the broadcaster players would not.
In addition to linking arms, Millwall players displayed an anti-racism banner.
The English Football League (EFL) are believed to be stepping in to try and control the situation.
