Premier League clubs return to take the knee this weekend for the first time this season as part of October No Room for Racism campaign, but six players across five clubs choose to stand. Manchester City defender Marc Guehi, Bournemouth pair Tyler Adams and Rayan, Leeds forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ipswich defender Issa Diop and Everton‘s Ainsley Maitland-Niles no go down on one knee.
Before Manchester City Champions League game on Tuesday, dem ask Guehi whether the knee don lose impact. Guehi talk say him no dey take the knee for a while now. “I always clap, just because of what that actually signifies,” he talk. He talk say the matter no be football issue alone. “I don’t think it’s necessarily a football issue, I think it’s a wider societal issue and football is just that beacon of hope to try and get the message out,” Guehi talk. Him add say the message still dey and e good, but more can always be done, and the campaign need to move forward. “The message is still there, which is great. More can always be done. I think we should see how we can move the campaign along,” he talk.
The Premier League maintain say taking the knee na decision wey players lead, and the league dey support any stance wey dem choose, whether collective or individual. The other five players no publicly comment, but Leeds manager Daniel Farke explain Calvert-Lewin position. “Dom is more or less like, ‘no, I don’t go down. I show my respect by standing up’. Every individual is different and shows respect for this campaign in a different way,” Farke talk. Farke add say the campaign good and the topic important, because dressing room na perfect example of how people suppose live together.
Premier League players start to take the knee in 2020 after George Floyd death and the Black Lives Matter protests wey follow. Before 2022-23 season, club captains agree say the campaign go only happen for selected matches. This season, captains agree make players take the knee during October No Room for Racism fixtures, wey coincide with Black History Month for UK.
Former Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha become first Premier League player to stop taking the knee in 2021. “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,” him talk at the time.
Premier League announce this month campaign say players go take the knee before kick-off during next two match rounds to show unity against all forms of discrimination. Kick It Out tell BBC Sport say taking the knee “still has value in raising awareness of the structural inequalities that exist in football and society.” Dem add say dem understand why players fit frustrate with the pace of change.
