Budapest (AP) – England’s national football team has criticized the renewed boos in Hungary and wants to continue to set an example together in the fight against racism.
“We’re definitely not going to stop as a team,” said Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Conor Coady after the 1-0 Nations League draw in Hungary. Boos could clearly be heard in Budapest after the English team dropped to their usual knees just before kick-off. “I’ll be honest, it’s really disappointing,” Coady said of the reactions at the Puskás Aréna.
“We just hope that people understand it more and more. We want to make sure that things change positively as a team and as a nation,” Coady said. “It’s important that we stay true to our principles. It’s important that we’re going to carry on what we’ve been talking about for the last few years.” Many people now know what the English team stands for. “If people don’t like it, that’s the way it is,” Coady said on Sky Sports.
The England players began calls for the eradication of racial injustices in society last year. “I have no idea why people are booing at this gesture,” said England coach Gareth Southgate. His team primarily do such actions to try to “educate people,” said the ex-professional about the reason for kneeling. In an interview with Channel 4, the 51-year-old did not want to directly criticize the fans in Budapest. Many younger people probably don’t even know why they are booing at all. “They are influenced by older adults,” Southgate surmised.