Premier League Player Questions Significance of Taking a Knee
Marc Guehi suggests anti-racism gesture may have lost its impact, opting to stand.
Manchester City and England defender Marc Guehi has indicated that the gesture of taking a knee to protest racism may have diminished in its effectiveness. Guehi was among a small number of Premier League players who chose to remain standing during the pre-match anti-racism gesture ahead of matches this past weekend.
The Premier League's 'No Room for Racism' campaign invited players to take the knee, a gesture introduced in 2020 following the death of George Floyd and the subsequent rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. Guehi, along with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Rayan, Tyler Adams, and Issa Diop, opted not to participate in the kneeling.
When asked about his decision, Guehi stated that while the campaign's message remains important, he is uncertain about the gesture's current impact. "I don't think it's necessarily a football issue, it's a wider societal issue and football is just that beacon of, I guess, hope, to try to get the message out," Guehi said. "But whether more can be done - we'll try, hopefully with the PFA, with the league, we'll see what can be done."
He acknowledged that he has not been taking the knee for some time, adding, "I hope we can do a bit more but we'll just see. Hopefully the message is getting out there which is the most important thing."
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke also commented on Dominic Calvert-Lewin's choice to stand, explaining that the player believes in showing respect by standing. Farke emphasized that individuals express their support for the campaign in different ways.
"It's definitely a good campaign and a good topic that football and sports, in general, support situations like this because a dressing room is a perfect example of how we should all live together," Farke said. "Different passports, different languages, different religions, but they are all together as human beings and friends who work together toward one target. This is how the world should be."
There have been instances where crowds have booed players taking the knee, as was heard at Elland Road before Leeds' match against Manchester United. This gesture, which was previously a consistent pre-match ritual, was changed ahead of the 2022-23 season. Premier League captains agreed to limit the gesture to specific match rounds, particularly those aligned with the No Room For Racism initiative.
Players and staff have the opportunity to perform the pre-match gesture during two gameweeks in October. The Premier League has reiterated its commitment to combating discrimination and highlighting the importance of diversity within football.