Premier League fixtures featured the return of the pre-match anti-racism gesture this weekend as part of October's No Room for Racism initiative. While the vast majority of competitors participated, six individuals across five different clubs opted to remain upright instead of dropping to one knee before kickoff.
Among those choosing a different approach was Marc Guehi, who expressed a desire to evolve the current awareness strategy. Rather than kneeling, the England international chose to applaud prior to a recent fixture. Guehi noted that he has bypassed the kneeling gesture for some time, preferring instead to clap as a sign of respect and to emphasize that discrimination remains a broader societal challenge rather than a strict football problem.
Discussion around the symbolic act has persisted for years following its widespread adoption across English football in 2020. Team captains previously decided to restrict the gesture to specific periods, with the current schedule aligning the action with Black History Month celebrations throughout October. League organizers have consistently stressed that the choice belongs entirely to the athletes, supporting whatever personal or collective preference they decide to make.
Other players who stood during the matches offered varied perspectives through their management. Leeds manager Daniel Farke addressed Dominic Calvert-Lewin's choice to remain on his feet, explaining that the forward prefers to demonstrate his support through standing rather than kneeling. Farke praised the initiative as a valuable use of sports platforms to promote harmony and positive examples of communal living.
The debate over the efficacy of the gesture comes amid ongoing concerns regarding online and in-person abuse within the sport. Organizations such as Kick It Out have acknowledged that while the display continues to raise important awareness, participants often grow frustrated by the slow pace of broader cultural progress. Recent seasons have witnessed rising numbers of reported discrimination cases, alongside high-profile incidents targeting players across various social media platforms.
Previous responses to persistent abuse have prompted other teams to reevaluate similar routines. The England women's team discontinued the gesture following targeted abuse directed at defender Jess Carter, with manager Sarina Wiegman noting that symbolic actions alone were proving insufficient. Public polling indicates that while many minority ethnic supporters in Britain still view the practice as a vital statement against prejudice, opinions among the broader public remain divided.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC Sport. Read the original report at BBC Sport.
