KNEELING before football games was not a mechanism by which racism would be eliminated entirely, the England women’s squad have been informed.
The Lionesses are to stop taking a knee before games because racist abuse on social media made it clear it was not eradicating racism from football or society, which it was never capable of nor intended to do.
Football fan Hannah Tomlinson said: “I like the way the team thinks. It’s direct and goal-focused and demonstrates why they’ve been so successful. It’s also wrong.
“Kneeling was a show of solidarity, a gesture, a protest, and not guaranteed to reduce racism either for any individual match or cumulatively. It’s only been going on five years. Racism’s been around a fair bit longer.
“Obviously I wish them well with finding a more effective way to tackle racism, but I admit my hopes aren’t high. I fear it’s beyond even their prodigious footballing abilities. Or indeed anyone’s.
“They’d have more chance stopping social media, but even that wouldn’t end racism. I’m reliably informed it pre-dates it.”
She added: “We’re not really racist about the Germans any more. That’s progress.”
