SCOTLAND can send a powerful anti-racism message to the entire world at Euro 2020 by “taking a stand” before their matches get underway, according to centre half Liam Cooper.
The national team’s players decided not to “take the knee” before their World Cup qualifiers back in March following a series of high-profile racist incidents in the game.
Many Premiership clubs – including Rangers, whose midfielder Glen Kamara was called a “f****** monkey” by rival player Ondrej Kudela in a Europa League game against Slavia Prague in March – abandoned the gesture this season.
Andy Robertson and his team mates stood before their matches against Austria, Israel and the Faroe Islands and the Liverpool left back yesterday confirmed they will do the same thing before their fixtures with the Czech Republic, England and Croatia this month.
Cooper, the Leeds United defender who is hoping to get the nod from manager Steve Clarke to face the Czechs at Hampden on Monday, believes it will, with millions of football fans tuning in around the globe, have a significant impact.
Asked about the Scotland players “taking a stand” before their Euro 2020 games, he said: “It came about at the international in March when Robbo spoke to us all and there was an agreement that we were going to take a stand.
“We believe in making a meaningful change and we are looking to get that. What we’ve decided is consistent with Scottish football and how they have approached it and that’s how we mean to go on.
“We just came together as a group and wanted to make a stand against discrimination. We want that to be meaningful and we all vouch for that and that’s how we want to do it. We know the world is watching and I know I keep saying it, but we all strive for that change. Eventually we will get there.
“There are here and there of things going wrong, so we want to come together and try to get that. I haven’t witnessed it, but neither am I blind to it. You see incidents in other countries and things like that.
“The problem is not eradicated as it should be. It’s 2021 now and the world should not be taking about this. Unfortunately we are and we are going to stand up against it.”
Cooper added: “We are in a fortunate position were we can stand up to it and show we are against it. I’m sure the Scottish fans will join in with us on that as well. You have to come to an agreement as a group.
“We do that at Leeds and we do that here as well. We all want to get there. It’s been going on far too long now in the game and we all want to make a stance and get rid of it.”
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