August 03, (THEWILL) – Players in the English Premier League will no longer kneel before every game, choosing instead to focus on specific matches.
The 20 captains of the top-flight teams held discussions that resulted in the decision, which is expected to have a stronger impact than the previous strategy.
THEWILL recalls that the practice began after the Black Lives Matter movement gained international prominence following the deadly arrest of George Floyd in Minneapolis. As sportsmen in the United States began to protest by kneeling, athletes from other sports joined, taking a knee before their competitions began.
Now, fans will witness the gesture at a few specific games, including as the FA Cup and EFL Cup finals, the first and last gameweeks of the season, and games during the No Room For Racism campaign.
There was no change of heart in the Bournemouth team. They stopped the gesture in February 2021, and are not anticipated to take the knee at any point during the upcoming season with a Friday night match that pits Crystal Palace against Arsenal.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
