England could reconsider “taking the knee” before Euro 2020 matches.
The move comes after players were booed and jeered at the start of the friendly against Austria.
The negativity was met with positive clapping and cheering from the 8,000 strong crowd at Middleborough’s Riverside stadium.
England return to the ground at the weekend for a second friendly – this time taking on Romania.
England manager Gareth Southgate said:
“What has happened probably means I need to have another conversation with the players first and foremost because I need see how they feel about it and that’s an important discussion for us to have.
“I know there was some concern in the past that we were losing some of the impact, so I think after what has happened tonight we need to consider whether we continue to do the same thing, whether we do something different.
“I’m sure the players will have a really good view on that.”
Southgate said the crowd’s response felt like a criticism of England’s black players.
He believes the gesture is misunderstood.
Southgate added:
“It’s not something on behalf of our black players that I wanted to hear because it feels as though it is a criticism of them.
“I think we have got a situation where some people seem to think it is a political stand that they don’t agree with.
“That’s not the reason the players are doing it.
“We are supporting each other.”
