Yahoo Finance Sadiq Khan interview: ‘If you’re a real fan, you don’t boo your team ... I’m proud our players take a knee’
As Sadiq Khan stood in the Trafalgar Square fan zone to watch England’s Euro 2020 opener against Croatia, it was hard to miss the initial boos from inside Wembley stands as England’s players took the knee.
While admittedly quickly drowned out by cheering from the majority of supporters, it again left a bitter taste for Gareth Southgate and his players on an otherwise positive opening weekend.
Whether the boos ring out again prior to Friday’s kick-off against Scotland remains to be seen but the message from London’s Mayor is simply that, “if you’re a real fan, you don’t boo your team”.
Growing up as a keen football fan, Khan was inspired by the likes of John Barnes and Viv Anderson pulling on an England shirt, while the last time the Euros were on English soil – back in 1996 – proving a seminal moment for him.
“It was an amazing tournament and not just because of the football but because it brought our nation together,” he told Standard Sport. “People like me [as an Asian man] were proud to be surrounded by the St George’s flag.
Watch: Taking the knee - England’s Tyrone Mings focuses on ‘hugely positive reaction’
“And again I’m so proud as an Englishman to have an English team and manager taking the knee in solidarity with all those that face racism, including the players. You see the stuff that players like Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford go through.
“There are children up and down the country watching our team… and for players to be booed is heartbreaking. I worry it gives succour to those with racist views.
“London is the most diverse city in the world and that’s demonstrated by this team. The manager has given his players a safe place to express themselves, it brings us all together and makes us more cohesive.”
For Khan, sport is central as the springboard to London’s recovery from the Covid pandemic, be it 40,000 fans at Wembley or full capacity for the Wimbledon singles finals as announced this week.
Some would argue London has lost its lustre as the sporting capital of the world – under the annual BCW global survey it has fallen behind New York for the past two years. But its Mayor perhaps understandably sees it differently, although warned “we can’t be complacent about being the undisputed sporting capital of the world”.
During his re-election campaign, the 50-year-old said he would push to bring the Olympics back to London in 2036 or 2040, and he is adamant it wasn’t merely a missive to garner him more votes.
Khan, who says he is already planning to put together an exploratory committee to properly investigate a bid, said: “The good news is the IOC understands the importance of a green Games. We could hold the Games in 2036/2040 , which would be the greenest Games ever as the infrastructure is mostly there. We could use the Games to showcase us as the greenest city in the world. It would be great to have it back in London.”
As a cricket fan, he is keen to bring the Indian Premier League to the Oval as well as push for Tour de France stages to the capital, although he says there are still bridges to be mended after his predecessor Boris Johnson angered Tour bosses by saying it was “not worth” bringing the race to London.
He says he is working to bring MLB back after a hiatus in the city because of Covid, and conversations are still bubbling below the surface of an NFL franchise based in London.
A planned first is a Formula 1 grand prix to sit alongside the British Grand Prix. The race has long been mooted – first by Bernie Ecclestone in the heart of the capital and more recently around Docklands. Again, Covid put such negotiations on the backburner.
But Khan said: “We’re speaking to Formula 1 and they’re really receptive. The reality is that the reigning champion of the world is a Brit. Lewis Hamilton is a credit to our nation and the sport, and it would great to have a grand prix in the capital city, to have Silverstone and London on the calendar.
“I think next year would be too soon but I’ve been really impressed with those at Formula 1 and I’m keen to bring it as soon as possible.”
Watch: Come to London but don’t go to Trafalgar Square, Sadiq Khan tells Tartan Army
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