Millwall want Watford game taken off Sky Sports over broadcaster’s coverage of QPR clash

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Dan Kilpatrick @Dan_KP14 December 2020

Millwall do not want Sky Sports to televise their home match against Watford later this month, amid fury over the broadcaster's coverage of last week's derby with QPR.

The build-up to the 1-1 draw with the Rs at the Den was dominated by controversy after the returning Millwall fans had booed the players taking a knee before the home defeat to Derby three days earlier.

Sky televised the fixture and Millwall are furious with the broadcaster, alleging that it reported online and on screen that the Lions players were planning to take a knee ahead of kick-off, despite repeatedly being told by the club that they would not perform the gesture.

Before the match, Millwall had announced that, rather than take a knee, the two sets of players would link arms and hold up a banner in support of the fight against racism – a move supported by Kick It Out, Show Racism The Red Card, the PFA, the FA and the EFL – as well as replacing their shirt sponsor with Kick It Out for the game.

Several visiting players also took a knee, while QPR pair Ilias Chair and Bright Osayi-Samuel performed the gesture after the former had opened the scoring.

The Lions are demanding an apology from Sky and have written to the EFL to request that the Hornets match on December 29 be deselected from Sky coverage while they remain in dispute with the broadcaster.

The game is worth £75,000 to Millwall and if the coverage goes ahead the club would consider donating the fee to a good cause rather than accept Sky's money.

Sky Sports declined to comment when contacted.

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