Mark Bullingham said anyone who claims taking the knee is a political gesture is "wrong". It comes as Tory MP Lee Anderson will continue his boycott of watching England's games when the team takes on Italy in the Euro 2020 final but admitted he will check his phone for the latest score. The Ashfield MP has refused to watch Gareth Southgate's team in protest at their anti-racism stance of taking the knee before matches.

       Speaking to BBC Andrew Marr Show, he said: "We've been very clear on what taking the knee stands for.

       "It is an act of equality.

       "It is not a political gesture and quite frankly anyone who tries to position it in that way is wrong."

       In a video on Facebook, Mr Anderson - wearing a T-shirt with the Three Lions emblazoned on it - said it's "their choice to take the knee and it's my choice not to watch the matches" but added he had received abuse about his position.

       He said he hoped for an England victory on Sunday night and he would be cheering if they scored in the Wembley final.

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       "I've had a bit of a torrid week actually, lots of emails, a bit of abuse - but that's normal - about my decision not to watch the England matches," he said.

       "That's my decision, I'm not forcing my views on anybody else.

       "I don't like the taking the knee business, I think it associates with the Black Lives Matter movement - I know the England players don't think it does but it does, it does to me.

       "But that's their choice to take the knee and it's my choice not to watch the matches."

       "But I will be supporting England on Sunday night... I'm going to check my phone for updates to see if they've scored and cheer if they have.

       "I hope they win and I hope it comes home."

       It comes as Captain Harry Kane said his team hopes to do England fans proud in the bid for Euro 2020 glory, as the Queen and Prime Minister threw their support behind the nation's footballers.

       The monarch paid tribute to the "spirit, commitment and pride" of the squad in a good luck message ahead of Sunday's final on home turf, while her grandson the Duke of Cambridge said it is "so exciting" to get to this point.

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       Boris Johnson has also written to the team, telling manager Gareth Southgate and the players they had "already made history" by reaching the final.

       Victory would mark the men's football team's first major tournament win since the 1966 World Cup success, which also took place at Wembley Stadium in London.

       In her written message, the Queen recalled presenting the Jules Rimet trophy to Bobby Moore almost six decades ago.

       She said: "Fifty-five years ago I was fortunate to present the World Cup to Bobby Moore and saw what it meant to the players, management and support staff to reach and win the final of a major international football tournament.

       "I want to send my congratulations and that of my family to you all on reaching the final of the European Championships, and send my good wishes for tomorrow with the hope that history will record not only your success but also the spirit, commitment and pride with which you have conducted yourselves."