LONDON (AP) 鈥� An English soccer team’s attempts to shake off its rowdy reputation have been damaged by, of all things, a children’s anti-racism booklet.
Millwall was blindsided by the educational pamphlet that featured the southeast London club鈥檚 badge edited onto an illustration of a robe. The Westminster City Council has since apologized.
A British lawmaker told The Associated Press that the misuse of Millwall branding is an 鈥渋nsult,鈥� and the team鈥檚 leading fan group said it was 鈥渙utraged鈥� at the portrayal.
The second-division club said it is considering legal action because the imagery creates 鈥渁 false and damaging image of the club.鈥�
The incident comes at a time when Millwall has a strong chance to secure a first ever promotion to the . The team was last in the top flight in the 1989-90 season.
Millwall鈥檚 image
The checkered reputation of fan behavior dates to the days of England鈥檚 worst episodes of hooliganism in the 1970s and 80s. Hardcore Millwall fans proudly chanted, 鈥淣o one likes us, we don鈥檛 care.鈥�
But the club has worked to change its perception. The it created in 1994 was 鈥渢he first organization of its kind at an English football club.鈥� Millwall also boasts of its working relationship with anti-discrimination organizations Kick it Out and Show Racism the Red Card.
Despite the initiatives, Millwall has suffered dings to its image.
Millwall fans turned on each other 鈥� and police 鈥� during the 2013 FA Cup semifinal against Wigan at Wembley Stadium.
A few days after for taking a knee before kickoff at a December 2020 game, fans entering The Den received a printed statement that read: 鈥淭he eyes of the world are on this football club tonight 鈥� your club 鈥� and they want us to fail.鈥� That night, by both teams.
The English Football Association suggested its disciplinary commission consider a partial stadium closure because of offensive chanting by Millwall supporters about disabilities during a September 2025 game at Crystal Palace in the League Cup. The commission called the chants 鈥渁bhorrent鈥� and opted to fine Millwall 45,000 pounds ($60,000) in .
It was the third breach in the past three years 鈥� the previous chanting focused on religion and sexual orientation.
What was in the pamphlet?
The educational booklet distributed to London primary schools tells the story of , a Black player who was subjected to racial abuse while playing for Chelsea in the early and mid-1980s.
One page depicts a Ku Klux Klan member in a white robe that has Millwall’s logo on the chest. It’s next to a Canoville quote about being racially abused at Millwall.
The Paul Canoville Foundation said it wasn’t consulted on any of the contents. It said the illustration 鈥渋s 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.鈥�
The Westminster City Council said the booklet has been removed from circulation.
鈥淲e accept the use of this image was an insensitive way to illustrate the historic problem of racism within football. We have apologized to Millwall Football Club for the improper use of their logo and for any offense caused,鈥� it said in a statement.
Neil Coyle, Labour MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, told AP on Friday that the decision to use the Millwall branding 鈥渋s an insult to southeast London frankly,鈥� because of the club’s work in the community.
The Millwall Supporters鈥� Club also weighed in Friday, saying it was 鈥渙utraged” and 鈥渢his deeply damaging misrepresentation does not reflect our club or a fanbase that works tireless to eradicate discrimination of any kind from the game.鈥�
The Kensington and Chelsea Council’s logo also features on the front of the pamphlet. A council spokesperson told the AP: 鈥淲e understand the booklet is being withdrawn, and support that decision.鈥�
Premier League promotion in sight
Millwall is battling Ipswich to earn the second outright promotion spot. has clinched the title. The top two finishers in the Championship get promoted automatically. The next four enter a playoff for the final promotion spot.
Millwall moved into second place Friday night 鈥� but only by one point over Ipswich 鈥� after a 1-1 draw at . Millwall has just one game left in the season.
Ipswich has three games remaining and plays at West Brom on Saturday.
___
AP soccer:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
