Football Victoria denies it sanctioned decision to make junior players kneel

Football Victoria has denied it sanctioned the actions of soccer officials who made junior players kneel in a BLM protest.

Parents are angry junior soccer players were made to kneel before a game

Football Victoria has denied it sanctioned the actions of soccer officials who made junior players kneel in a Black Lives Matter protest before a match in Melbourne last Thursday.

Parents complained 13-year-old players were dragged into a political statement ahead of the game between Ringwood City and Manningham United Blues.

A parent, who requested anonymity, told the Herald Sun: “It was bizarre, we saw them kneeling and then put two and two together. I don’t think kids understand the politics behind it all.”

He said there had been no warning that the players would be required to kneel.

“As a parent it would have been nice to be able to consider it and discuss it beforehand,” he said.

Football Victoria said in a statement on Monday morning it was only made aware of the officials request after the game.

“Football Victoria respects the right of individuals or groups to undertake such actions, however this request was made directly by the match official without any involvement or awareness by Football Victoria.

“Any suggestion that this initiative was undertaken at the direction of Football Victoria as a publicity stunt is inaccurate.”

Football Victoria said it was investigating the matter and its expectation was that clubs and players would agree in advance if such action was to take place in future.

Ringwood City, which hosted the match, sent its members and parents an email saying the club had nothing to do with the protest.

It said that Football Victoria referees had notified coaches of the action just minutes before kick-off, and they “were caught completely unaware”.

The email by club vice-president Danielle Hine said that while the club supported many causes, parents should have been given proper notice so the “cause is discussed with players to ensure they understand the cause and why it is occurring”.

The “take a knee” movement has swept the sporting world in the past few weeks, with many elite athletes taking action to support Black Lives Matter. AFL and NRL players knelt at the start of games in the first round back from the COVID-19 shutdown.

Drivers at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday night were divided on the issue. World champion Lewis Hamilton knelt on the front row wearing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt while several other drives also knelt wearing shirts with the slogan “End racism”. However, several drives, including Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, chose not to kneel.