Cambridge United: Football Association to investigate knee protest jeers
- Published
Players from both sides took a knee before the game, which Cambridge won 2-1
The Football Association is looking into a crowd-related incident at Cambridge United after fans were heard booing players taking the knee before Tuesday's fixture against Colchester.
The FA has sought observations from the club about what happened at the Abbey Stadium, BBC Sport understands.
Cambridge said the actions of a "tiny majority" were "hugely disappointing".
If identified, fans who booed the anti-racism gesture would face a ban, the League Two club added.
The match was Cambridge's second home game since the easing of coronavirus restrictions allowed supporters to return and it was the first time the knee had been taken with their fans present.
Investigations into similar incidents at both Millwall and Colchester earlier in December are ongoing.
The information gathering process is understood to be continuing in both of those cases.
A supporter at League Two side Exeter City was also heard booing players taking the knee before their game against Harrogate Town on the same evening, but they were ejected from the ground.
No further action is expected to be taken by the FA regarding this.
Jeering fans 'not welcome'
Cambridge boss Mark Bonner condemned the incident before his side's League Two game as "unacceptable" and the club issued a statement on the matter on Wednesday morning.
"As a club we pride ourselves on our work across the city in promoting inclusion and diversity and in seeking to create a tolerant and welcoming atmosphere that makes everyone feel they can be part of Cambridge United," they said.
"It was therefore hugely disappointing that, last night, a tiny minority should choose to boo when players took the knee before the start of the game, even if this was quickly drowned out by applause from the vast majority.
"We are not going to attempt to second guess their motivation at what is clearly an act expressed to send an anti-racist message.
"We want to make clear that they are not welcome at Cambridge United. They do not share our values as a club. We will do what we can to try to identify them and when we do they will face a ban."
The promise to ban supporters echoed a statement from Robbie Cowling, the chairman of Tuesday's visitors Colchester, after a similar incident at their home game with Grimsby earlier in December.
Players' choice whether to take knee again
Asked what plans Cambridge have for their next home game on 26 December, chief executive Ian Mather said "ultimately it's the players' choice".
"Taking the knee is a player-led initiative. If the players want to take the knee in that game on Boxing Day, that's what they will do and we will support them in doing that," he told BBC Sport.
"I understand why Millwall and QPR tried to do something different but actually linking arms at a time that we're all meant to be social distancing wasn't something I think we'd go with."
Mather said the prospect of the club being fined by the FA for Tuesday's incident "would not be welcome", pointing towards measures they took before and after the boos.
But he did call for a "coordinated response" from football "as to how to deal with this going forward".