Millwall faced Derby in their Championship clash on Saturday, with 2,000 supporters allowed entry due to the fact London is currently in tier 2. However, those present caused outrage when boos were heard ringing out across the Den when the squad took the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. And Millwall have now condemned those responsible, saying in a statement: “Millwall Football Club was dismayed and saddened by events which marred Saturday’s game against Derby County at The Den.

“The club has worked tirelessly in recent months to prepare for the return of supporters and what should have been a positive and exciting occasion was completely overshadowed, much to the immense disappointment and upset of those who have contributed to those efforts.

“The impact of such incidents is felt not just by the players and management, but by those who work throughout the club and in its Academy and Community Trust, where so many staff and volunteers continue passionate endeavours to enhance Millwall’s reputation day after day, year after year.

“The club will not allow their fine work to be in vain.

“The players are continuing to use the biggest platform they have to support the drive for change, not just in football but in society generally.

“There is much work to be done and at Millwall everyone is committed to doing all that is possible, both individually and collectively, to be a force for good and to ensure that the club remains at the forefront of football’s anti-discrimination efforts.

“Over the coming days, club, Academy and Community Trust staff will meet with Kick It Out and representatives from other appropriate bodies in an attempt to use Saturday’s events as a catalyst for more rapid solutions which have an impact both in the short and long-term.

“Further comment will be made once those meetings and discussions are concluded.

Millwall’s club statement has come after the squad released one of their own, saying: “The gesture of ‘taking the knee’ before matches provides an opportunity for us to do exactly that and continues to allow all those playing to publicly showcase their support – on behalf of the whole squad – for the fight against discrimination.

“We wish to make clear that taking the knee, for us, is in no way representative of any agreement with political messaging or ideology.

“It is purely about tackling discrimination, as has been the case throughout.

“We will continue to do this until the start of the new year when a new and comprehensive anti-discrimination strategy will be announced by the club.”

Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards slammed those who booed on Saturday.

“It is just disheartening. How do these fans get allocated to the games?”

He added: “There are 2,000 so you can pinpoint the people going. There are no excuses. I am sick to death of talking about this situation.

“It is so disheartening because it is like we have come so far but we have so far to go. I don’t even like talking about the matter. It feels like it falls on deaf ears. It is time and time and time again.

“It’s just so disheartening because we’ve come so far but we’ve got so far to go. I don’t even like talking about it because it falls on deaf ears time and time and time again. If they’re going to mention it and put out a statement, let’s see some real punishment.

“I don’t want to see ‘Millwall slapped with a ten grand fine’ or ‘it was only certain parts’. Well these are the diehard fans because they’ve managed to get to the game!

“They know exactly who it is, they need to be punished, and I’m sick to deaf of talking about it. I come here to enjoy football and we’re talking about this. But we have to, because it’s in our game, which is a problem.”