LONDON (Reuters) – Former England striker Les Ferdinand believes ‘taking a knee’ in help of the Black Lives Matter trigger has turn into nothing in need of a PR stunt and that the actual message is being diluted.
Ferdinand, who’s Black, is now Director of Soccer at Queens Park Rangers who had been criticised after each units of gamers opted to not take the knee earlier than their match towards Coventry Metropolis within the Championship on Friday.
The London membership issued a press release on Monday saying that it by no means advised a scarcity of help for the marketing campaign.
Ferdinand, who made his title as a prolific striker at QPR and loved profitable spells at Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, stated the criticism of a membership he calls one of the vital various in England was unwarranted.
“This shouldn’t be about QPR. Many golf equipment didn’t take the knee on the opening weekend, but this was not reported,” Ferdinand, 53, stated in a membership assertion.
“Taking the knee was very highly effective however we really feel that influence has now been diluted.”
The Black Lives Matter trigger was taken up by Premier League golf equipment on the resumption of final season following the dying of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis on Could 25.
Premier League membership wore the Black Lives Matter go surfing their shirts however that has now been changed by “No Room for Racism”.
Whether or not to proceed taking a knee earlier than video games has divided opinion throughout sport and Ferdinand believes the gesture, first carried out by NFL participant Colin Kaepernick in 2016, is at risk of changing into an empty one.
“Nobody is extra passionate than me about this subject. I’ve spoken on the matter all through my footballing life,” he stated.
“Not too long ago, I took the choice to not do any extra interviews on racism in soccer as a result of the talk was going round in circles. Individuals desire a good soundbite when one thing occurs, however how lots of the media who’ve criticised QPR over the previous 48 hours genuinely need change?
“The taking of the knee has reached some extent of ‘good PR’ however little greater than that. The message has been misplaced. It’s no longer dissimilar to a flowery hashtag or a pleasant pin badge.”
Premier League gamers have continued to take the knee earlier than video games for the reason that begin of the brand new season.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Enhancing by Christian Radnedge)
