Rangers defender Connor Goldson has hailed the message sent by Ibrox skipper James Tavernier last week over the reasons players take the knee as ‘perfect’ as the Ibrox defender spoke out on racist abuse in football and wider society.
The Light Blues captain wrote a lengthy message to fans ahead of the win over Livingston amid fears a small section of Rangers fans would boo the gesture – however, the players were given a resounding backing when they did kneel before the Ibrox win.
“We all spoke the day before and all agreed that taking the knee was the best thing to do,” Goldson told Sky Sports.
“Whether there are boos or a good reception, it keeps people talking and it stays in the head of a lot of people. It brings up the topic more and it was great the reception from the fans.
“I think Tav’s message to the fans the night before was perfect, the perfect message to send out, and that’s why we do it. It’s not a political movement at all.
“It’s just that we want to bring racism to the forefront and show that it’s not acceptable.
“Do I think it’s going to go in the click of a finger because we’re all speaking about it? No, I don’t. But at the same time, I feel like now it is actually coming out in the press and we’re managing to have more conversations about it.
“Hopefully, people can learn from that and the next generation is kinder with their words than this generation.
“We can only hope and we can only try and educate the next generation of kids and people and hopefully that will help eradicate it.”
Goldson – and every other BAME player at Ibrox – was subjected to racist abuse of some form last season, with midfielder Glen Kamara victim of sickening abuse by a Slavia Prague player during a Europa League tie.
With the Rangers fans taking the knee before every game this season, it is a big step in the right direction to eradicating racism.
While, as Goldson admits, it won’t happen overnight there have been bigger strides taken in the last few years than in the preceding two decades.
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