YouGov research from nine European countries got opinions from over 4,500 fans; more supporters tend to support the gesture across Europe but are split on its importance in tackling racism; England players will take a knee at European Championships.
More football fans in Europe - including in England, Scotland and Wales - are supportive of players taking a knee than against it, but they are split over the gesture's importance in tackling racism, according to a major survey.
Polling company YouGov has shared with Sky Sports News the results of a study of 4,500 football fans carried out across nine countries in March this year, during the football season.
Most nations and groups had more fans who supported players taking a knee, with opposition mostly coming from a vocal minority.
Fans were asked: In some countries, professional football players and staff have chosen to kneel at the beginning of each game to show their support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Would you support or oppose professional players and staff in your country kneeling before each game in this fashion?
How important is the gesture in tackling racism?
When asked specifically about kneeling, only 37 per cent of football fans in England thought the gesture was important in tackling racism. From this sample, just over a quarter thought it was very important with the remainder viewing it as somewhat important.
However, 57 per cent of football fans in England did not think it was important when it comes to tackling racism, with just over a third (34 per cent) thinking it is not important at all.
In Scotland, 36 per cent of fans thought it was important, while 57 per cent did not - the same percentage as fans in England. In Wales, views were a little more evenly split with 41 per cent deeming it important, and 53 per cent thinking it was not.
The results were different when looking at football fans from ethnically diverse backgrounds in Great Britain. 61 per cent felt it was important. However, almost a third (32 per cent) did not think it was important in tackling racism.
A larger percentage of fans in the European countries felt taking a knee was important to tackle racism. The highest figure came in Portugal with 76 per cent, with 66 per cent in Spain and 54 per cent of fans in Italy sharing the same view.
48 per cent of football fans in Germany and France thought it was important which was a higher proportion than the home nations. 42 per cent disagreed in Germany, while the figure was 43 per cent in France.
www.skysports.com
More football fans in Europe - including in England, Scotland and Wales - are supportive of players taking a knee than against it, but they are split over the gesture's importance in tackling racism, according to a major survey.
Polling company YouGov has shared with Sky Sports News the results of a study of 4,500 football fans carried out across nine countries in March this year, during the football season.
Most nations and groups had more fans who supported players taking a knee, with opposition mostly coming from a vocal minority.
Fans were asked: In some countries, professional football players and staff have chosen to kneel at the beginning of each game to show their support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Would you support or oppose professional players and staff in your country kneeling before each game in this fashion?
How important is the gesture in tackling racism?
When asked specifically about kneeling, only 37 per cent of football fans in England thought the gesture was important in tackling racism. From this sample, just over a quarter thought it was very important with the remainder viewing it as somewhat important.
However, 57 per cent of football fans in England did not think it was important when it comes to tackling racism, with just over a third (34 per cent) thinking it is not important at all.
In Scotland, 36 per cent of fans thought it was important, while 57 per cent did not - the same percentage as fans in England. In Wales, views were a little more evenly split with 41 per cent deeming it important, and 53 per cent thinking it was not.
The results were different when looking at football fans from ethnically diverse backgrounds in Great Britain. 61 per cent felt it was important. However, almost a third (32 per cent) did not think it was important in tackling racism.
A larger percentage of fans in the European countries felt taking a knee was important to tackle racism. The highest figure came in Portugal with 76 per cent, with 66 per cent in Spain and 54 per cent of fans in Italy sharing the same view.
48 per cent of football fans in Germany and France thought it was important which was a higher proportion than the home nations. 42 per cent disagreed in Germany, while the figure was 43 per cent in France.
Taking a knee: Football fans across Europe asked about its importance and if they support it
YouGov research from nine European countries got opinions from over 4,500 fans; more supporters tend to support the gesture across Europe but are split on its importance in tackling racism; England players will take a knee at European Championships
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