MILLWALL chief executive Steve Kavanagh has urged the club's supporters to stop booing players who take a knee before kick-off.

Kavanagh believes that the booing is causing "extensive damage" towards anti-discrimination initiatives.

During the club's 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at The Den in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, there were some fans booing visiting players as they made the anti-racism gesture.

Millwall players do not take a knee before kick-off, and Kavanagh says he has "lost count" of the number of fans who feel they can no longer attend matches at The Den due to the reception visiting players receive when they perform the act.

News Shopper: Millwall chief executive Steve Kavanagh has written a letter to fansMillwall chief executive Steve Kavanagh has written a letter to fans

In a letter published on Millwall's website, Kavanagh wrote: "We have had extensive dialogue with different groups of fans over many months about the impact that booing the opposition taking the knee is having throughout the club.

"The way in which fans back all our anti-discrimination initiatives is clear for all to see, and that is greatly appreciated by all at the club.

"Clearly the debate around the taking of the knee is a complex one but what is inarguable is that the booing is causing extensive damage in so many different ways.

"I've lost count of the amount of supporters who have contacted me or other staff to say they can no longer attend while the booing is going on, and we also have employees throughout the club, academy and community trust who feel understandably very upset and angry both by it and the subsequent damage it is doing.

"As our campaign asks, I again urge those booing to Think Twice."