England manager Gareth Southgate has today insisted his players have a duty to ‘raise awareness and educate’ both on and off the field, amid the ongoing row over footballers taking the knee.
In an open letter penned to Three Lions fans ahead of Euro 2020, the England boss said he has ‘never believed’ sports stars ‘should just stick to football’ and insisted his team ‘are role models’.
Writing after a section of England fans booed stars for taking the knee in Sunday’s friendly against Romania, he said it was a ‘duty’ for stars to ‘interact with the public on matters such as equality and racial injustice’.
And he urged that supporters ‘must recognise the impact’ England stars ‘can have on society’.
It comes as the FA officials today blasted Boris Johnson for a ‘lack of support’ over the row – which threatens to overshadow England’s upcoming Euro 2020 opener against Croatia on Sunday.
In an impassioned open letter, published on Players’ Tribune, The Three Lions boss said: ‘Our players are role models. And, beyond the confines of the pitch, we must recognise the impact they can have on society.
‘We must give them the confidence to stand up for their teammates and the things that matter to them as people.
‘I have never believed that we should just stick to football.’
