(©AFP)
(©AFP)

Premier League player refuses to take the knee

Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 13.03.21. | 20:56

The Ivorian is the first player in the top English division who decided to stop the ritual before the matches

Players, officials, and staff at Premier League and English Football League games have been taking a knee pre-match since the 2019-20 season restarted in June in order to show their support for the movement for racial equality. The “Black Life Matters” movement and taking a knee has grown in prominence in the United Kingdom following the death of George Floyd in the US in May 2020, which sparked protests around the world.

And on Saturday, Wilfried Zaha became the first Premier League player to refuse to take the knee before the match. Before the game with West Bromwich Albion, while all other players, referees, and Crystal Palace staff took the knee, the Ivorian remain stood, with his arms behind his back.

My decision to stand at kick-off has been public knowledge for a couple of weeks now. There is no right or wrong decision, but for me personally, I feel kneeling has just become a part of the pre-match routine and at the moment it doesn't matter whether we kneel or stand, some of us still continue to receive abuse. I know there is a lot of work being done behind the scenes at the Premier League and other authorities to make a change, and I fully respect that, and everyone involved. I also fully respect my team-mates and players at other clubs who continue to take the knee. As a society, I feel we should be encouraging better education in schools, and social media companies should be taking stronger action against people who abuse others online - not just footballers” said Zaha in a statement.

The Eagles forward is the first Premier League player to do so, but in the lower divisions, this is not news at all. Championship club QPR decided in September 2020 to stop making the gesture before games, with the director of football Les Ferdinand saying its impact had "been diluted". Brentford soon followed as they believed the gesture is "no longer having an impact" in the fight against racism and discrimination in football.

Premier League CEO Richard Masters says players will continue to kneel in protest against racism before matches until at least the end of the season. Masters says the league will discuss extending the anti-racism demonstrations ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.


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Wilfried ZahaCrystal Palace

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