Mings hopes taking a knee informs critics like UK minister

Posted June 15, 2021 7:00 am

By ROB HARRIS

England's Raheem Sterling, left, takes the knee before the start of the Euro 2020 soccer championship group D match between England and Croatia at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool) The Associated Press

BURTON-ON-TRENT, England (AP) - Taking a knee has now pitted a British government official against the England team in their campaign against racial injustice.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has directly opposed players taking part in the anti-racism gesture before games at the European Championship.

That's a step further than what Prime Minister Boris Johnson's stance has been, saying he doesn't want to see England fans booing players who do it, though he hasn't come out in support of taking a knee.

Patel said in an interview with the GB News TV channel that she didn't support people participating in 'œgesture politics.'ť

Those comments seemed to surprise England defender Tyrone Mings since Patel had previously invited him onto a Zoom call to hear about racism and he found her 'œinterested and engrossed'ť in the player's perspective.

Mings hopes education convinces people like Patel why the players are kneeling.

'œThe home secretary is one of many, many people that oppose us taking the knee or refuse to defend it,'ť Mings said Tuesday at England's St. George's Park training headquarters. "We have our own set of beliefs and what we think we can do to help, that players can be influential and stand up for what we believe in.

'œUnderstandably when you have such strong beliefs, there will be opposition to that," he said.

The players have agreed collectively to continue taking a knee despite it being booed by sections of their own fans, including ahead of kickoff on Sunday when England opened its European Championship campaign with a 1-0 win over Croatia at Wembley Stadium.

'œWe've spoken about trying to educate or trying to inform the minority who refuse to acknowledge why we're taking the knee and want to boo it,'ť Mings said. 'œBut at the same time in Wembley there was a hugely positive reaction to us taking the knee as well and I don't that should be overshadowed by the minority who refuse to accept what the reasons are or don't agree with them.'ť

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England's Mason Mount, right, and Declan Rice take the knee pair to the kick-off of the Euro 2020 soccer championship group D match between England and Croatia, at Wembley stadium, London, Sunday, June 13, 2021. (Laurence Griffiths, Pool via AP) The Associated Press

England's Tyrone Mings and Croatia's Ante Rebic, top, jump for the ball during the Euro 2020 soccer championship group D match between England and Croatia, at Wembley stadium, London, Sunday, June 13, 2021. (Laurence Griffiths, Pool via AP) The Associated Press

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