Cambridge boss Mark Bonner slams fans as players are booed before League Two clash with Colchester for taking a knee before the jeers were drowned out by applause
- Some fans booed players taking a knee before Cambridge’s 2-1 win on Tuesday
- The jeers however were quickly drowned out by other fans that applauded
- Cambridge manager Mark Bonner has slammed those who booed the gesture
Boos were drowned out by applause as players took the knee at the start of Cambridge’s match at home to Colchester.
When players from both teams took the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement for the first time at the Abbey Stadium this season, boos were clearly audible.
However, fellow spectators quickly responded by applauding before the Sky Bet League Two contest got under way.
Cambridge manager Mark Bonner has criticised fans that booed players taking a knee
Following the game, Cambridge manager Mark Bonner condemned those supporters that jeered the players.
As reported by Sky Sports, he said: ‘I’m disgusted to be honest, it shines a light on our club for all the wrong reasons.
‘What was a really good game for us on the pitch was overshadowed by a really small minority that decided to boo in a moment when we’re reflecting the values that everyone at our club believes in.
‘It is just behaviour which is unacceptable and at our club we don’t want that at all.
‘What was most encouraging is the vast majority drowned them out quite quickly with applause and reflected the values of our club much better.
‘We work incredibly hard in the community and there’s massive work that goes on to highlight all these issues and we’ve clearly got some work to do because some people have embarrassed our club and embarrassed themselves to be honest.’
Meanwhile before Exeter’s clash with Harrogate Town, one supporter booed loudly at players taking the knee, for it to again be drowned out by applause.
A similar incident took place before Millwall’s game against Derby earlier this month
Exeter have confirmed one supporter had been ejected from the stadium and promised to take ‘the appropriate action’.
The incidents followed previous examples at Millwall and Colchester this month.
The Lions insisted they were “dismayed and saddened” by events at The Den ahead of the visit of Derby on December 5, when the long-awaited return of supporters was overshadowed by booing when players took the knee.
Colchester’s League Two game with Grimsby on the same day was preceded by fans booing the players’ anti-racism gesture before kick-off.
The Essex club’s owner Robbie Cowling said afterwards that fans who want to boo players taking the knee are not welcome at the club.