Millwall FC considers legal action after Westminster City Council uses club badge on Ku Klux Klan illustration in children''s anti-racism booklet

Apr 24, 2026, 11:05

Introduction

Millwall Football Club is evaluating potential legal proceedings following the inclusion of its registered badge on an illustration of a Ku Klux Klan member in an anti-racism educational booklet distributed to primary school children by Westminster City Council. The council has issued an apology, and the Paul Canoville Foundation has clarified it had no role in producing the booklet''s content.

Main Body

The booklet, produced by a Westminster City Council employee, was part of a programme about the life of former Chelsea player Paul Canoville, the club''s first black player. It contained a cartoon of a figure wearing a white robe and pointed hat—attire associated with the white supremacist group—with the Millwall FC logo on the chest. The image was placed next to a photograph of Canoville, accompanied by a quote attributed to him: ''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.'' According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the illustration was intended to depict a real incident Canoville experienced during a Chelsea Reserves versus Millwall Reserves match in the 1980s, in which he was subjected to racial abuse by individuals wearing Ku Klux Klan-style hoods. However, this context was not provided in the booklet. Westminster City Council acknowledged the ''improper use of their logo and for any offence caused,'' stating that the image was ''an insensitive way to illustrate the historic problem of racism within football.'' The council confirmed the booklet has been removed from circulation and that processes are being reviewed to prevent recurrence. All remaining copies in the council''s possession will be destroyed. Millwall FC, via the official supporters'' club, described the use of its badge as a ''serious misuse of a registered club badge'' that created a ''false and damaging image of the club.'' The club stated it is still considering its legal position and declined further comment. The Paul Canoville Foundation, whose logo also appeared on the booklet, issued a statement asserting that the material was ''not produced by, commissioned by, or approved by The Paul Canoville Foundation or our Founder, Paul Canoville.'' The foundation''s involvement was limited to Canoville''s personal appearance at schools to share his lived experience. The foundation''s CEO, Raphael Frascogna, confirmed that the illustration does depict a genuine incident of racial abuse Canoville endured, but stressed the foundation was not consulted on the booklet''s content. Kensington and Chelsea Council, whose logo also appeared, was contacted for comment but no response was reported in the sources.

Conclusion

The incident has prompted an apology from Westminster City Council and a review of its procedures, while Millwall FC continues to assess its legal options. The Paul Canoville Foundation has distanced itself from the booklet''s production but affirmed the historical accuracy of the depicted event. The situation remains unresolved pending Millwall''s decision on potential legal action.

Vocabulary Learning

affirmed

To state or assert positively and formally, often in the face of doubt or denial.確認，肯定地陳述。

Example:The foundation affirmed the historical accuracy of the depicted event.

commissioned

To order or authorize the production of something, typically a work of art, document, or service.委託製作，正式授權創作或生產。

Example:The material was not produced by, commissioned by, or approved by The Paul Canoville Foundation.

distanced itself

To show that one is not connected or involved with something, often to avoid association or blame.劃清界線，表明與某事無關。

Example:The Paul Canoville Foundation has distanced itself from the booklet's production but affirmed the historical accuracy of the depicted event.

pending

Awaiting a decision or settlement; not yet resolved.待定，懸而未決的。

Example:The situation remains unresolved pending Millwall's decision on potential legal action.

recurrence

The fact of happening again, especially of an undesirable event.再次發生，復發。

Example:The council confirmed the booklet has been removed from circulation and that processes are being reviewed to prevent recurrence.

Sentence Learning

Main clause: 'Millwall Football Club is evaluating potential legal proceedings'. Then a participial phrase 'following the inclusion...' acting as an adverbial of time/reason. Within that phrase, 'of its registered badge' is a prepositional phrase modifying 'inclusion', then 'on an illustration...' another prepositional phrase, then 'of a Ku Klux Klan member' modifying 'illustration', then 'in an anti-racism educational booklet' modifying 'illustration', then a reduced relative clause 'distributed to primary school children by Westminster City Council' modifying 'booklet'. The sentence uses a chain of prepositional phrases and a reduced relative clause to pack information densely.主要子句：「Millwall Football Club is evaluating potential legal proceedings」。然後是分詞短語「following the inclusion...」作為時間/原因狀語。該短語內，「of its registered badge」是修飾「inclusion」的介詞短語，接著「on an illustration...」另一個介詞短語，然後「of a Ku Klux Klan member」修飾「illustration」，再「in an anti-racism educational booklet」修飾「illustration」，最後一個縮減關係子句「distributed to primary school children by Westminster City Council」修飾「booklet」。句子使用一連串的介詞短語和縮減關係子句來密集地包裝信息。

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the illustration was intended to depict a real incident Canoville experienced during a Chelsea Reserves versus Millwall Reserves match in the 1980s, in which he was subjected to racial abuse by individuals wearing Ku Klux Klan-style hoods.

Fronted adverbial phrase 'According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service'. Main clause: 'the illustration was intended to depict a real incident'. Then a reduced relative clause 'Canoville experienced' modifying 'incident' (omitted relative pronoun 'that/which'). Then a prepositional phrase 'during a Chelsea Reserves versus Millwall Reserves match in the 1980s'. Then a non-restrictive relative clause 'in which he was subjected to racial abuse by individuals wearing Ku Klux Klan-style hoods' providing additional detail about the match. The clause contains a participial phrase 'wearing Ku Klux Klan-style hoods' modifying 'individuals'. The sentence uses a fronted adverbial, reduced relative, and non-restrictive relative clause.前置狀語短語「According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service」。主要子句：「the illustration was intended to depict a real incident」。然後是縮減關係子句「Canoville experienced」修飾「incident」（省略關係代詞that/which）。接著介詞短語「during a Chelsea Reserves versus Millwall Reserves match in the 1980s」。然後是非限制性關係子句「in which he was subjected to racial abuse by individuals wearing Ku Klux Klan-style hoods」提供關於比賽的額外細節。該子句包含分詞短語「wearing Ku Klux Klan-style hoods」修飾「individuals」。句子使用了前置狀語、縮減關係子句和非限制性關係子句。

Westminster City Council acknowledged the 'improper use of their logo and for any offence caused,' stating that the image was 'an insensitive way to illustrate the historic problem of racism within football.'

Main clause: 'Westminster City Council acknowledged the 'improper use of their logo and for any offence caused''. Then a present participial phrase 'stating that...' acting as an adverbial of manner. Within that phrase, 'that' introduces a noun clause: 'the image was 'an insensitive way to illustrate the historic problem of racism within football.'' The sentence uses a participial phrase to embed reported speech, and the quoted material adds lexical density.主要子句：「Westminster City Council acknowledged the 'improper use of their logo and for any offence caused'」。然後是現在分詞短語「stating that...」作為方式狀語。該短語內，「that」引導名詞子句：「the image was 'an insensitive way to illustrate the historic problem of racism within football.'」句子使用分詞短語嵌入轉述引語，引用的材料增加了詞彙密度。

The Paul Canoville Foundation, whose logo also appeared on the booklet, issued a statement asserting that the material was 'not produced by, commissioned by, or approved by The Paul Canoville Foundation or our Founder, Paul Canoville.'

Main clause: 'The Paul Canoville Foundation issued a statement'. Interposed non-restrictive relative clause: 'whose logo also appeared on the booklet' providing additional information about the foundation. Then a present participial phrase 'asserting that...' modifying 'statement'. Within that phrase, 'that' introduces a noun clause containing a list of passive verb phrases: 'not produced by, commissioned by, or approved by The Paul Canoville Foundation or our Founder, Paul Canoville.' The appositive 'Paul Canoville' at the end. The sentence uses a non-restrictive relative clause and a participial phrase with a complex noun clause.主要子句：「The Paul Canoville Foundation issued a statement」。插入的非限制性關係子句：「whose logo also appeared on the booklet」提供關於基金會的額外信息。然後是現在分詞短語「asserting that...」修飾「statement」。該短語內，「that」引導名詞子句，包含一系列被動動詞短語：「not produced by, commissioned by, or approved by The Paul Canoville Foundation or our Founder, Paul Canoville。」末尾有同位語「Paul Canoville」。句子使用了非限制性關係子句和帶有複雜名詞子句的分詞短語。

The foundation's CEO, Raphael Frascogna, confirmed that the illustration does depict a genuine incident of racial abuse Canoville endured, but stressed the foundation was not consulted on the booklet's content.

Main clause: 'The foundation's CEO, Raphael Frascogna, confirmed that...' with apposition 'Raphael Frascogna'. The that-clause: 'the illustration does depict a genuine incident of racial abuse Canoville endured'. Within that clause, 'does' is an emphatic auxiliary, and 'Canoville endured' is a reduced relative clause modifying 'incident' (omitted 'that/which'). Then a coordinate clause introduced by 'but': 'stressed the foundation was not consulted on the booklet's content'. This is a verb phrase with an omitted 'that' before 'the foundation was not consulted'. The sentence uses apposition, emphatic 'does', reduced relative, and coordination with ellipsis of 'that'.主要子句：「The foundation's CEO, Raphael Frascogna, confirmed that...」帶有同位語「Raphael Frascogna」。that子句：「the illustration does depict a genuine incident of racial abuse Canoville endured」。該子句中，「does」是強調助動詞，「Canoville endured」是縮減關係子句修飾「incident」（省略that/which）。然後是由「but」引入的並列子句：「stressed the foundation was not consulted on the booklet's content」。這是一個動詞短語，省略了「that」在「the foundation was not consulted」之前。句子使用了同位語、強調助動詞「does」、縮減關係子句和省略「that」的並列結構。