ANKARA
English Premier League football clubs will not take the knee before all fixtures, but instead will have specific days to perform it during the 2022-23 season as part of unity against discrimination and racism, in a new league initiative.
“Players will take the knee at select matches to highlight ongoing anti-discrimination message,” the league said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the club captains “reaffirmed their commitment to fighting racism and all forms of discrimination.”
Ahead of the new season, #PL club captains have reaffirmed their commitment to fighting racism and all forms of discrimination.
The players have decided to use specific moments during the upcoming campaign to take the knee. #NoRoomForRacism
More: https://t.co/C8HxAVA9qs pic.twitter.com/vtZ6r9D2E7
— Premier League (@premierleague) August 3, 2022
“The players have decided to use specific moments during the upcoming campaign to take the knee, to amplify the message that racism has no place in football or society,” it added. – Players to take knee in 1st matchday of the 2022-23 season, ‘No Room for Racism’ match rounds, Boxing Day fixtures, cup finals
The 2022-23 Premier League will start on Friday with Crystal Palace facing Arsenal at London’s Selhurst Park.
“Players will take the knee during the opening match round of the season, dedicated No Room for Racism match rounds in October and March, Boxing Day fixtures following the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Premier League matches on the final day of the season and The FA Cup and EFL Cup Finals,” the Premier League statement said.
“We have decided to select significant moments to take the knee during the season to highlight our unity against all forms of racism and in so doing we continue to show solidarity for a common cause,” the Premier League captains said.
Kneeling protests in US sports venues started in wake of the 2020 police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, and later spread internationally, along with Black Lives Matter demonstrations.
