Westminster City Council has apologised to Millwall FC over a racism awareness pamphlet produced for schoolchildren which depicts a Ku Klux Klan member wearing the football club’s logo.
The central London council has been forced to apologise over the “insensitive” illustration, with Millwall FC slamming it as “false and damaging”.
The south-east London football club, whose ground is in South Bermondsey, has said that it is considering pursuing legal action.
The pamphlet was produced by a Westminster City Council employee, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands.
In a statement posted to X, Millwall Supporters Club said: “Message from Millwall FC. 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 have confirmed no more copies of the image with the club’s logo will be made or distributed by them and all remaining material in their possession will be destroyed. The club is still considering its legal position on the matter and are unable to comment further.”
A photograph posted to X shows the pamphlet in question. It shows a cartoon of what looks like a member of the KKK, wearing a white robe with a pointed hat with the Millwall FC logo on the chest.
Next to it is a photograph of Paul Canoville, who was the first black player for Chelsea FC when he joined the club in 1981.
The legendary player faced torrents of racist abuse while playing as a professional footballer between 1981 and 1986. Some of this came from Chelsea FC’s own fans and fellow teammates, he told the Daily Mail.
The LDRS was told the image is a depiction of a real incident Canoville experienced whilst playing for Chelsea Reserves against Millwall Reserves in the 1980s, in which he was subjected to serious racial abuse by a number of individuals wearing Ku Klux Klan-style white hoods. However, it is understood that this context was not given in the brochure.
A quote alongside the picture reads: “Racism never went away. I was badly abused in a reserve match at Millwall but then I could show the racists my 1984 2nd Division Championship medal.”
A further picture, reportedly of the front of the pamphlet, shows a space for children to fill in their “name” and “class”.
Beneath this are the logos for Westminster City Council, Kensington and Chelsea Council and The Paul Canoville Foundation.
Chief Executive Officer of the Paul Canoville Foundation, Raphael Frascogna, said: “The Paul Canoville Foundation is aware of the statement issued by Millwall Supporters’ Club regarding the misuse of their registered club badge in an educational booklet distributed to primary school children.
“We wish to be unequivocal: this booklet was not produced by, commissioned by, or approved by The Paul Canoville Foundation or our Founder, Paul Canoville.
“Our involvement in the associated programme was limited solely to Paul’s personal appearance; meeting students and sharing his lived experience. At no stage were we shown, consulted on, or asked to approve the content of the booklet, including any illustrations within it.
“We understand the illustration in question is a depiction of a real incident Paul experienced whilst playing for Chelsea Reserves against Millwall Reserves in the 1980s, in which he was subjected to serious racial abuse by a number of individuals wearing Ku Klux Klan-style white hoods. This was one of many incidents of racist abuse Paul endured during his career, incidents that form the foundation of the educational and cultural work the foundation exists to advance.
“We are not in a position to speak to other parties’ editorial decisions, their use of third-party intellectual property, or the legal position between other organisations. Those are matters for the parties involved. What we can say is this: Paul’s story is one of resilience, courage, and the cost of racism in football.
“We hope all parties can resolve this matter respectfully, and we remain committed to ensuring Paul’s legacy is told truthfully and on his terms.”
The LDRS has contacted Kensington and Chelsea Council for comment.
