Millwall Football Club today (Sunday, January 27) released a statement after a video was posted online ‘displaying alleged racist chanting during Saturday’s victory over Everton.’
The club said it was ‘extremely disappointed’ by the video that is circulating and added: “The club will, as is commonplace following such incidents, work with all relevant authorities during investigations into the matter and look to identify individuals involved.
“Anyone identified and guilty of such abuse will be banned from The Den for life.
“The club would like to place on record its gratitude to, and pride in, the vast majority of its supporters who gave their team outstanding backing throughout the match and who deserve to enjoy a memorable victory.
“They should be able to do so without being tarnished by behaviour they would find abhorrent.
“Millwall Football Club has a long and proud record of anti-discrimination work and on top of this investigation will continue to work tirelessly, alongside the authorities, to eradicate all forms from the game.”
Meanwhile, charity Kick It Out, set up 25 years ago by the Commission for Racial Equality and the Professional Footballers’ Association to combat racism in the sport also released a statement confirming the FA is investigating the incident.
Millwall has long been a supporter of the charity and in 2017 was named family club of the year.
The statement from Kick It Out said: “The racist chanting heard from some Millwall supporters during yesterday’s match is disgusting and typical of mass discriminatory chants that continue to go unpunished.
“We reiterate our message: racial hatred – and all forms of discrimination – have no place in society, especially not in 2019. There is no reason why a footballing environment should be the exception to this rule.
“Kick It Out wants to see the relevant authorities take swift, firm and decisive action against the perpetrators.
“We have spoken with the FA, who confirmed they are investigating the incident.”
On BBC Radio 5 live Michael Avery from Millwall Supporter’s Club said it was a ‘mindless few’ and pointed out how hard the club had been working to eradicate such a minority.
He said: “We won family club of the year in 2017, we are universally recognised for the work we do with family supporters and young supporters and this kind of thing does not help the club at all.
“There is really is no place for it in football.”
Before Millwall’s FA Cup game with Everton there were reports of disorder in Bermondsey, but police have not yet released details of any arrests or whether a man, who had his face slashed, was from a large group of males from either Millwall or Everton.
READ MORE: UPDATE – POLICE APPEAL AFTER MORE REPORTS OF DISORDER IN BERMONDSEY