‘I’M SO PROUD OUR PLAYERS TAKE A KNEE, IT UNITES US ALL’ SADIQ KHAN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

AS Sadiq Khan stood in the Trafalgar Square fan zone to watch England’s Euros opener against Croatia, it was hard to miss the initial boos from inside Wembley as Gareth Southgate’s side took the knee.

While admittedly quickly drowned out by cheering from the majority of supporters, it again left a bitter taste for the England manager 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 John Barnes and Viv Anderson pulling on an England shirt, while the last time the Euros were on English soil — in 1996 — proved to be 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 said. “People like me [as an Asian man] were proud to be surrounded by the St George’s flag.

“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. 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 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 leader understandably sees it differently, although he warned: “We can’t be complacent about being the undisputed sporting capital of the world.”

During his re-election campaign, Khan said he would push to bring the Olympics back to London in 2036 or 2040, and he is adamant it was not merely a missive to garner him more votes.

Khan (right), 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 or 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, Khan is also keen to bring the Indian Premier League to The Kia Oval, as well as push for Tour de France stages in the capital, although he says there are bridges to be mended after his predecessor, now Prime Minister Boris Johnson, angered Tour bosses by saying it was “not worth” bringing the race to London.

He says he is working to bring Major League Baseball back after a hiatus because of Covid, and conversations are still bubbling below the surface of an NFL franchise based in London.

A planned first is a Formula One race to sit alongside the British Grand Prix. It has long been mooted in the heart of the capital and, more recently, around Docklands. Again, Covid put such negotiations on the backburner.

Khan said: “We’re speaking to F1 and they’re really receptive. The reality is that the reigning champion is a Brit. Lewis Hamilton is a credit to our nation and the sport, and it would be great to have a grand prix in the capital city, to have Silverstone and London on the calendar. Next year would be too soon, but I’ve been really impressed with those at F1 and I’m keen to bring it

as soon as possible.”

It is heartbreaking for the players to be booed — I worry it gives succour to those with racist views