‘We want to make clear that they are not welcome at Cambridge United’
Cambridge United have told a small number of supporters who booed as players took the knee before their game on Tuesday that they are no longer welcome at the club.
The League Two side hosted Colchester at the Abbey Stadium, where a ‘tiny minority’ of the home support booed the gesture, which is a symbol of anti-racism.
The fans’ actions were strongly condemned by manager Mark Bonner after the game, who described their behaviour as “disgusting” during a post-match interview.
An official statement from the club has now been released, which echoes Bonner’s sentiments and vows to identify and ban those responsible.
‘It was hugely disappointing that, last night, a tiny minority should choose to boo when players took the knee before the start of the game, even if this was quickly drowned out by applause from the vast majority,’ the statement reads.
Full statement ➡️ https://t.co/5lUzONLLeP#CamUTD pic.twitter.com/oVy0Lz4Ar3
— Cambridge United FC (@CambridgeUtdFC) December 16, 2020
‘We are not going to attempt to second guess their motivation at what is clearly an act expressed to send an anti-racist message. We want to make clear that they are not welcome at Cambridge United.
‘They do not share our values as a Club. We will do what we can to try to identify them and when we do they will face a ban.’
The incident at Cambridge follows similar scenes at Millwall earlier in the month, when videos were widely circulated on social media showing some of the London club’s supporters booing as players took the knee before a game with Derby County.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, a supporter was kicked out after jeering before Exeter City’s game with Harrogate Town. As was the case at Cambridge, other supporters responded by applauding and cheering the players.
