England squad do not plan to walk off pitch to protest racist abuse, says Gareth Southgate

Southgate questioned what positive concrete impact walking off would have, and focused instead on what he called 'the broader discussion around racism'

The England squad do not plan to walk off the pitch to protest against racist abuse, according to manager Gareth Southgate.

England’s black players were racially abused in Montenegro in March, raising the question of how they would react if it were to happen again. Speaking at Wembley on Thursday afternoon, Southgate revealed that “none” of his team favour walking off in protest. Southgate questioned what positive concrete impact walking off would have, and focused instead on what he called “the broader discussion around racism”.

Southgate has spoken to Raheem Sterling, Danny Rose and Callum Hudson-Odoi about the events that marred England’s 5-1 win in Podgorica. He said that they have “discussed ways that we can make the players more comfortable”, and that the players have been encouraged to “speak up” if they are abused.

But Southgate said that the England players wanted to be known for their football first, and that there was a question within the squad how much could be actually be achieved by walking off in protest. So for now they do not support it.

“They [England’s abused players] are clear that they don’t want the story at the end to be about them as individuals, they want football to be the story,” Southgate said. “But they’ve also had an opportunity since then [Montenegro] to speak and to have an impact. In terms of walking off the pitch, that isn’t something they’re all on board with. In fact, none of the current team have expressed that as a preference.”

Southgate questioned what concrete - rather than symbolic - benefits could be gained from a walk-off protest. Which is why his focus is on education instead. “The bit that isn’t clear if we did that [walked off] - apart from the question of would we be penalised - it’s not clear to me what would happen then. It would be a statement. But what would that lead to?”

“There are lots of statements that have been made and haven’t led to change and reform,” Southgate said. “For me, the broader discussion around racism of education is key. I think a lot of our players and former players have spoken brilliantly about that in recent months.”

This is why Southgate and his team are reluctant to commit to another “symbolic” stance that may not change much. When pressed whether he was tempted to use the power of such a statement, he said: “I don’t think we need any more symbolic statements that this [racism] is unacceptable. It is totally unacceptable. But I am still not clear: what change will that [walking off] enforce?

“Somehow we have to enforce that change and education in society, and I think we must continue to strive to do that. But I know there is a wide variation of opinions, of people that this is the right thing, and people who are less sure. My players’ feeling is the most important thing for me.”

Southgate said that while England was not “perfect”, that this was a more racially sensitive country than many others where abuse is more common place.

“We are more multicultural and diverse than most,” Southgate said, “and therefore we are further ahead than a lot of other places, and that has taken us a long time. I think others aren’t as alert to it, or are not as aware of what it feels like for the people who are on the receiving end. Because of our experiences and the understanding we have, we are far more acutely aware of it. I have got say that is not the case elsewhere.”