Millwall Football Club is considering legal action against Westminster City Council after the club's badge was placed on an image of a Ku Klux Klan member in a children's educational booklet distributed across London schools. The image appeared in 'The Paul Canoville Story', a booklet authored by Peter Daniel, an education and interpretation officer for Westminster Council. Paul Canoville, the first black player to make a first-team appearance for Chelsea in 1982, endured racial abuse throughout his career, even from his own club's fans. The booklet, part of an anti-racism initiative by the council, aimed to educate young people about racism in football.
Offensive Illustration
On page 20 of the booklet, a KKK figure is depicted wearing a white outfit emblazoned with Millwall's crest. The illustration appears alongside an image of Canoville and a speech bubble that reads: 'Racism never went away. I was badly abused in a reserve match at Millwall, but then I could show the racists my 1984 Second Division Champions medal.' A source at Millwall told Metro that the club is furious about the image and is seeking an explanation from Westminster Council regarding how it was approved for publication. The club, which is still in contention for automatic promotion to the Premier League this season, has worked extensively to improve its image from the 1970s and 1980s. Millwall has won multiple awards from the English Football League in recent seasons for its family-friendly matchday experience. Last month, Millwall's community trust was awarded Community Project of the Year at the London Football Awards for its work with young people, offering tailored careers advice, employability training, and pathways into employment.
Club's Response
A spokesperson for Millwall stated: 'The club has received a full apology from Westminster Council following their serious misuse of a registered club badge, which was placed on an illustration of a white supremacist hate group member in a children's education booklet distributed in schools, creating a false and damaging image of the club. The council has confirmed that no more copies of the image with the club's logo will be made or distributed, and all remaining material in their possession will be destroyed. The club is still considering its legal position on the matter and is unable to comment further.'
Council's Apology
A Westminster City Council spokesperson said: 'We accept the use of this image was an insensitive way to illustrate the historic problem of racism within football. We have apologised to Millwall Football Club for the improper use of their logo and for any offence caused. The booklet has been removed from circulation, and we are reviewing processes to ensure this does not happen again.'
