Millwall are considering legal action against Westminster Council after the club’s badge was featured on Ku Klux Klan costumes in a children’s education booklet. The council has issued a “full apology” to the Championship club for the shocking incident, and a booklet has already been distributed to schools.
Westminster City Council also confirmed its intention to withdraw and “destroy” any remaining copies of the booklet it still has. This worrying situation was revealed by Millwall Supporters Club, who shared a statement from Millwall on their official X account.
“The club has received a full apology from Westminster Council following serious abuse in which the registered club badge was featured on an illustration of a member of a white supremacist hate group in a children’s education booklet distributed in schools, creating a false and harmful image of the club,” the statement said.
“The council has confirmed that no further copies of the image bearing the club logo will be made or distributed and that any remaining material in its possession will be destroyed.
“The club is still considering its legal position on this matter and is unable to comment further.”
A council spokesperson later confirmed that an apology had been made, saying: “We accept that the use of this image was an insensitive way to illustrate the issue of racism in football.”
“We have apologized to Millwall Football Club for the inappropriate use of their logo and the offense caused. The booklet has been removed from distribution and we are reviewing our processes to ensure this does not happen again.”
Millwall sources told the Telegraph the London club were “outraged” by the incident, given the huge effort they have put into improving their reputation in recent years.
The source added: “We do a lot of work around EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) but it’s outrageous that the club is portrayed that way to young people.”
On the pitch, the Lions had a fantastic season as they looked to qualify for the Premier League for the first time.
Millwall, who last appeared in the top flight in the 1989/90 season, sit third in the table, level on points with second-placed Ipswich Town, who have one game in hand.
They next travel to relegated Leicester City on Friday night before finishing the regular season at home to Oxford United the following Saturday.
Even if they miss out on automatic promotion, Alex Neil’s side have already secured a place in the play-offs. The club last appeared in the play-offs in the 2001/02 season under former manager Mark McGee.
