8 minutes and 46 seconds kneel

[Deery]

A one minute silent knee would probably be what happens and I would welcome it, be interesting to see how black players respond in Italy to the current events with so much racism over there.

 

[Judas]

"Protest all you want as long as it's not inconvenient to my entertainment", fecking hell what an attitude.

Basically. It's so obvious and pathetic how clear peoples agendas are "please we've just got our precious football back, don't mess with it again!!!!!!!". The fact the ignorance is coming from fully grown adults who you'd hope have had an education is so sad.

 

[Silas]

Basically. It's so obvious and pathetic how clear peoples agendas are "please we've just got our precious football back, don't mess with it again!!!!!!!". The fact the ignorance is coming from fully grown adults who you'd hope have had an education is so sad.

It's embarrassing to read.

 

[anant]

1 min of silence and black armbands instead of players taking the knee for almost 9 mins.

 

[VP]

Not sure footballers in England protesting stuff in the US makes sense - especially when there's plenty of racism in the UK to tackle first.

 

[Smores]

Bit of a stupid implementation but agree with the general premise. Whilst it's always cringe to see celebs etc jump onto an issue in reality a protest moving from just the streets to mainstream media of all kinds is incredibly useful as it provides saturation.

Sorry for those who aren't bothered about racial injustices enough to be mildly inconvenienced but you're the problem. Maybe you could compare your own inconvenience to those felt by daily by others due to racial discrimination?

 

[Pughnichi]

Doubt this will happen/be approved by the football ‘authorities’

But, the players, could take it upon themselves and do it during their pre game warm up. Just head out the tunnel 10 mins earlier and drop to a knee. It would still get the same coverage

 

[Sylar]

Im actually shocked, but at the same time not surprised by some of the views on here.

"You can protest.... well not like that... or that... actually just protest, but make sure its quiet and not an inconvenience to me or anything I like"

Ive noticed a pattern as well in terms of 'media' people who are saying similar. (eg Simon Jordan)

 

[Judas]

Not sure footballers in England protesting stuff in the US makes sense - especially when there's plenty of racism in the UK to tackle first.

It's bigger than that one incident now. It's about racism as a whole. There's marches happening in England.

 

[11101]

Do something for it by all means, as there are a lot of black footballers who will feel strongly about this, but kneeling for nearly 10 minutes is stupid. Especially directly before a game when players are all about keeping moving.

 

[UpWithRivers]

Its only two generations ago that people owned slaves and were Natzis etc That evil is still here and we still have to stand up and say no. People saying 'Oh its an America problem' or 'its not a football problem' - what would have happened if they said 'Oh its a Jew problem' or a 'Poland problem'. We need to understand we stand to together. All people. All colors. All nations. Its a good vs evil problem. Not a police vs civilians or America vs Europe. It right vs wrong. Hatred has no place anywhere. I say do the 8 minutes 46 seconds. Yes its a long time but how soft are they. Make a statement.

 

[RoyH1]

Doubt this will happen/be approved by the football ‘authorities’

But, the players, could take it upon themselves and do it during their pre game warm up. Just head out the tunnel 10 mins earlier and drop to a knee. It would still get the same coverage

Nah, it has to be during the match to get full exposure. While kneeling for 8 mins 46 secondsmight be hard to implement, I think that the idea of doing a short kneel at the start and then again at the 8:46 point might optimize the mediatic impact without falling afoul of FIFA rules.

 

[Rooney in Paris]

Some of the posts in here have made for grim morning reading, and show massive ignorance from some on here. Pretty depressing.

As for the idea, it's a good one - from a sports science point of view, I'm just wondering whether staying in a kneeling position for 9 minutes after having warmed up and before going into competitive sports could lead to an increased chance of injuries, which would not be the idea. But maybe at least for 1mn? In any case, it would be great for the PL to raise some awareness around this, if anything this thread has shown it's needed.

 

[Tom Cato]

What happened to that fella was a shame & disgrace. But terrible things happen every day all over the world.

Imo sport should stick with sport & not make political statements regardless of how well intended they are. I go to football to forget about life for a few hours.

Individuals within sport can lend their support outside of the game & any right minded person would support them in doing that.

Just my 2 cents

You're going to be so upset when I remind you that football is very politically active.

Primarily, they focus on the No To Racism campaign.

https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/social-responsibility/respect/no-to-racism/

When grown men and women can't behave like civilized human beings, it's up to the organizations with the biggest outreach to remind them that their viewpoint has no place in the modern world.

 

[GioF]

What happened to George Floyd was disgusting and barbaric. It was evil. It wasn’t a scared cop who ‘made an error’ like has been described in the past when a cop has shot down a person of colour. This was a controlled show of force and evil. Nothing else to call it.

However it just sums up the many more forms of evil we see throughout the world and nothing is really done to stop the systematic abuse of children, people of colour, domestic violence, animal cruelty etc etc I really could go on and on.

To then ask footballers or other athletes to turn a blind eye because it impacts on your enjoyment whilst watching sports just shows the selfish nature of some people. I also hate the way these events are used by people to try and ‘buy some good publicity’.

The way the Liverpool players were around the centre circle looking up to the camera for their social media picture made me sick. The same football club who fully supported a racist, wore t-shirts and even after finding out he was guilty still plugged him as their star man. I’m sure if it wouldn’t of been their star striker and instead an average squad player they would of acted different but again this is the selfish ‘me first’ world we live in.

 

[VP]

It's bigger than that one incident now. It's about racism as a whole. There's marches happening in England.

Oh didn't know that.. if it's broader protest about racism than the Premier League should definitely participate.

 

[sewey89]

I like and agree with the principle of the idea, but I don't think it'd ever happen. 8 minutes and 46 seconds is a hell of a long time and if people were watching footballers kneel for that long, it'd be a really powerful way of reiterating just how vile and nasty that racist scumbags actions were.

But as I say, I don't think it's practical and I don't think it'd ever be approved. I think a kneel at 8mins 46 seconds would also be a strong message.

Something should be done though - The racists are squirming and are really uncomfortable about the whole thing, as they should be. This feels like a real movement and a real moment in time. I live in hope that real change is coming.

 

[TwoSheds]

Normally I wouldn't advocate protesting about social problems in another country just because they've imposed their society and problems on all sorts of other countries around the world. However, this civil disturbance in America is not just any old protest, it's a howl of the oppressed, the verge of a civil war, and I think we should support anyone around the world who is being oppressed by their own government. Syrian Kurds are protesting in solidarity and frankly they've got it far worse with half the world against them, but if they can take the time and energy to protest it when they're in the middle of a war then you can get behind a footballer who wants to peacefully protest and delay your gratification for a couple of minutes. Frankly, the shame is that they're only thinking of protesting the goings on in America and not all the other places around the world where people are being horrifically oppressed, not that you have to sit your lard arse down for a bit of uncomfortable viewing.

 

[DWelbz19]

And I am sick of everyone jumping the gun and encouraging what's happening blatantly cherrypicking certain details to fit their agenda. George Floyd is being painted as some sort of Saint right now but the reality is that he was far from it. How about the cop who was shot by protesters? Nobody is talking about it because they are too busy "protesting". Footballers just like many other athletes and professionals do a lot of anti-racism campaigns and they should stick to doing that but they should not be involved in individual accidents like this.

Crikey. Wobble your head a bit, man.

 

[Kag]

Politics and sport have always been intertwined. There is an element of real stupidity that surrounds the folk who think it doesn’t.

1968 Olympics spawned one of the most powerful images in human history.

That doesn’t mean to say that I support this suggestion. I find that the most effective moments of protest are those that are somewhat spontaneous. Like Jadon Sancho at the weekend. Many sportspeople have had to fight through all sorts of adversity to get where they are. If they choose to use their platform to exercise their desire for positive change then I’m not going to cry into my Carling about it.

 

[Adisa]

And I am sick of everyone jumping the gun and encouraging what's happening blatantly cherrypicking certain details to fit their agenda. George Floyd is being painted as some sort of Saint right now but the reality is that he was far from it. How about the cop who was shot by protesters? Nobody is talking about it because they are too busy "protesting". Footballers just like many other athletes and professionals do a lot of anti-racism campaigns and they should stick to doing that but they should not be involved in individual accidents like this.

Feck me!
On another note, people saying take politics out of sport are on another planet.

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

Imo sport should stick with sport & not make political statements regardless of how well intended they are.

Opposing racism is not a political statement. It's the promotion of basic human decency.

 

[SirAF]

And I am sick of everyone jumping the gun and encouraging what's happening blatantly cherrypicking certain details to fit their agenda. George Floyd is being painted as some sort of Saint right now but the reality is that he was far from it. How about the cop who was shot by protesters? Nobody is talking about it because they are too busy "protesting". Footballers just like many other athletes and professionals do a lot of anti-racism campaigns and they should stick to doing that but they should not be involved in individual accidents like this.

Wat

 

[UpWithRivers]

And I am sick of everyone jumping the gun and encouraging what's happening blatantly cherrypicking certain details to fit their agenda. George Floyd is being painted as some sort of Saint right now but the reality is that he was far from it. How about the cop who was shot by protesters? Nobody is talking about it because they are too busy "protesting". Footballers just like many other athletes and professionals do a lot of anti-racism campaigns and they should stick to doing that but they should not be involved in individual accidents like this.

and your username is Dove? Is that some sort of irony?

 

[fps]

What happened to that fella was a shame & disgrace. But terrible things happen every day all over the world.

Imo sport should stick with sport & not make political statements regardless of how well intended they are. I go to football to forget about life for a few hours.

Individuals within sport can lend their support outside of the game & any right minded person would support them in doing that.

Just my 2 cents

Thing is, a lot of people here seem to think they're American. They consume so much of the culture, they think because they share the language we're the same country. We're not. I have no issue with players if they want to use their reach to do things. You're right that many awful things happen every day in the world, it would feel as if this was a tribute to the most publicised current issue. That doesn't sit brilliantly with me. I think the family need to grieve for this awful tragedy, my heart goes out to them, and the US needs to sort itself out, as there is endemic racism in areas and systems which needs to be expunged.

 

[Berbasbullet]

Opposing racism is not a political statement. It's the promotion of basic human decency.

This!

 

[SilentWitness]

Kneeling at 8 mins 46 sec is something doable but kneeling for 8 mins will never happen.

I think this is a more powerful statement and would work better for the players and the 'game'. Kneeling at the start of the game and then kneeling again at 8m 46.

And I am sick of everyone jumping the gun and encouraging what's happening blatantly cherrypicking certain details to fit their agenda. George Floyd is being painted as some sort of Saint right now but the reality is that he was far from it. How about the cop who was shot by protesters? Nobody is talking about it because they are too busy "protesting". Footballers just like many other athletes and professionals do a lot of anti-racism campaigns and they should stick to doing that but they should not be involved in individual accidents like this.

...and this is exactly why it should happen. Disgusting post.

 

[Solius]

And I am sick of everyone jumping the gun and encouraging what's happening blatantly cherrypicking certain details to fit their agenda. George Floyd is being painted as some sort of Saint right now but the reality is that he was far from it. How about the cop who was shot by protesters? Nobody is talking about it because they are too busy "protesting". Footballers just like many other athletes and professionals do a lot of anti-racism campaigns and they should stick to doing that but they should not be involved in individual accidents like this.

Get absolutely fecked.

 

[Lynty]

8 minutes 46 seconds is a long time to kneel.

 

[fps]

Does it even matter whether he was a saint or a criminal? No one should be killed regardless of the crimes they have or haven’t committed. Lethal force is an absolute last resort to stop someone who is seconds away from killing other people. Someone who is pinned down and handcuffed is no longer a threat.

If he was proven to be a criminal then he has the same rights to go through the courts as everyone else and be given the appropriate punishment.

As for the kneeling I have no problem with players doing it but I think the entire 8:46 Is unlikely. It’s more likely to be a 1 minute silence or kneel.

While I agree that this is a heinous crime, no-one thinks it isn't.... this kneeling is being suggested due to the large amount of media coverage which has been afforded this incident. There are many other awful things happening in the world right now. Should everything be turned into something which sport should recognise and protest? This seems crazy. Sport will simply become a reflection of the highest-publicised issues in the media. This does not seem a wise thing to move towards. Especially when it will inevitably involve Britain essentially just responding to US stories, simply because we share a language.

 

[RobinLFC]

Especially when it will inevitably involve Britain essentially just responding to US stories, simply because we share a language.

What the feck. It's because you share the same problem called racism, not because you share a fecking language.

 

[James Peril]

Totally agree. To the people saying 8 minutes is too long, that’s the feckin point, it is to long to kneel on somebodies neck!

America need shaming, racism is alive in the UK but it’s just a feckin free for all over there.

Time to let them know that they don’t set the tone with acts like this. It cannot be accepted and forgotten and the world is watching.

People should use the 8 minutes to imagine how disgustingly frightening it would be to have the life slowly drained from you.

Wrong place to bring up your political agenda, this is a football forum concerning Manchester United. As others have mentioned above, terrible and even worse stuff happen every single day all over the world - not all is covered by the media in this way. If you want to change things, go into politics and do it the hard way. Footballers in England taking a stance changes absolutely nothing.

 

[fps]

What the feck. It's because you share the same problem called racism, not because you share a fecking language.

No, I don't think so. Britain has issues with racism, serious systemic issues, as many countries do. But this story is massively publicised and also easily readable for us. The US has a cultural media stranglehold on this country, and the shared language is a huge part of that. How au fait are you with race relations issues in France? I'd imagine not very - because you can't read their press.

 

[SilentWitness]

While I agree that this is a heinous crime, no-one thinks it isn't.... this kneeling is being suggested due to the large amount of media coverage which has been afforded this incident. There are many other awful things happening in the world right now. Should everything be turned into something which sport should recognise and protest? This seems crazy. Sport will simply become a reflection of the highest-publicised issues in the media. This does not seem a wise thing to move towards. Especially when it will inevitably involve Britain essentially just responding to US stories, simply because we share a language.

I think you should go away from the forum for a bit and do some reading. The kneeling is being suggested because there is a huge racism problem in society, not just in the US but all around the world. Are you also conveniently forgetting the amount of incidents we have had this season concerning racism? i.e Chelsea fans on Sterling, the England game, Spurs vs Chelsea, Ian Wright receiving racist messages etc. There are too many to name.

 

[RobinLFC]

No, I don't think so. Britain has issues with racism, serious systemic issues, as many countries do. But this story is massively publicised and also easily readable for us. The US has a cultural media stranglehold on this country, and the shared language is a huge part of that. How au fait are you with race relations issues in France? I'd imagine not very - because you can't read their press.

Pretty well, considering we speak French in Belgium as well.

If you think this is just a US-related issue, you are widely off the mark.

 

[fps]

I think you should go away from the forum for a bit and do some reading. The kneeling is being suggested because there is a huge racism problem in society, not just in the US but all around the world. Are you also conveniently forgetting the amount of incidents we have had this season concerning racism? i.e Chelsea fans on Sterling, the England game, Spurs vs Chelsea, Ian Wright receiving racist messages etc. There are too many to name.

I teach English for a living and have an English degree, I do plenty of reading thank you, I read and teach effective reading for a living. Very clearly an 8 minute 46 second kneel is a direct reference to a single incident in the US recently, and the idea of kneeling for that amount of time did not exist before that incident.

 

[fps]

Pretty well, considering we speak French in Belgium as well.

If you think this is just a US-related issue, you are widely off the mark.

I at no point said this was a US-related issue, nor do I believe that. However, kneeling is what Colin Kaepernick did, and 8 minutes and 46 seconds is the amount of time that poor man took to die. So clearly this is all a very US-based way of approaching something based on US events, and in this case specifically a US event which has just happened.

 

[Deery]

While I agree that this is a heinous crime, no-one thinks it isn't.... this kneeling is being suggested due to the large amount of media coverage which has been afforded this incident. There are many other awful things happening in the world right now. Should everything be turned into something which sport should recognise and protest? This seems crazy. Sport will simply become a reflection of the highest-publicised issues in the media. This does not seem a wise thing to move towards. Especially when it will inevitably involve Britain essentially just responding to US stories, simply because we share a language.

Have you never heard of ‘stamp it out’...

 

[fps]

Have you never heard of ‘stamp it out’...

I don't think people here are really reading what I'm writing or responding to the things I'm actually writing, instead conflating them with other generalisations and generic views, so I'm going to stop posting in this thread.

 

[Deery]

I don't think people here are really reading what I'm writing or responding to the things I'm actually writing, instead conflating them with other generalisations and generic views, so I'm going to stop posting in this thread.

I’m just trying to get across the notion that racism is a global problem and we should definitely show solidarity with the US..