Not taking the knee.

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Preston North End Football Club wish to reaffirm our stance against all forms of discrimination not only in football but in our daily lives.

There has never been, nor will there ever be, any circumstance to justify any form of racism or discrimination against any individual or group. If anyone connected with the club, whether they be employees or supporters, are found to be acting contrary to our beliefs in these areas we will not hesitate to take immediate steps to ban any such individuals from our club.

In reasserting our position, we have consulted with our captain and players and believe that the initiative of taking the knee before games has made its point but lost some of the initial impact.

Our players will therefore no longer take the knee before football matches. Far from diluting our efforts to rid discrimination from everyone’s daily lives, in conjunction with our players we will be introducing a number of initiatives to ensure that ‘Not Today or Any Day’ remains relevant and at the forefront of everything that we do.

pnefc.net 10 August 2021

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Luton' s players have announced that they won't be taking the knee before matches this season as the gesture has been 'misrepresented as a political statement.'

The Hatters, like most football clubs up and down the country, had been doing so ahead of kick-off since June 2020 as a symbol of unity against all forms of racism.

However, it has been met with criticism in recent months, with Town's squad now deciding to stand together around the centre circle in support of other teams who chose to continue doing so this term.

A statement on the club's official website said: "We can confirm that our players have made a united decision to not take the knee before matches at the start of the 2021-22 season.

"The squad have discussed at length the advantages and disadvantages of continuing the gesture, and collectively feel that their intention of making a visual symbol of their support for the fight against racism, inequality and injustice has been misrepresented as a political statement.

"They do not wish for this gesture to become a catalyst for negativity, and instead plan to stand together around the centre circle in support of all other teams who choose to do so.

"We ask that supporters respect the decisions that have been taken with great consideration by our players, and our opponents, as Luton Town Football Club continues to play its part in keeping the fight against all forms of discrimination at the top of the agenda.

"We encourage all supporters to be considerate towards each other, report incidents or call out any form of abuse that may occur before, during or after a match.

"There is no place in football or society for any form of prejudice, and our excitement for the return of the football season must be matched by our resolve to stand together against racism and all forms of discrimination."

lutontoday 6/8/21

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Why Doncaster Rovers no longer take the knee before matches

Richie Wellens said there was a collective belief at Doncaster Rovers that the gesture of taking the knee had run its course in the bid to rid football of racism and discrimination.

Rather than taking the knee prior to kick-off in their matches at the Keepmoat, as they did throughout last season, the Rovers players link arms on the centre circle.

During this, an anti-racism message recorded by the squad is played on the big screen.

Explaining why Rovers no longer take the knee, Wellens said he feels the new gesture hammers home the intended point more.

“I think taking the knee has run its course,” he told the Free Press.

“We put a video on the big screen and I think that has more of an impact - our players talking about it rather than taking the knee.

“I don’t think it’s a massive problem within football but it should not be a problem at all.

“There’s no room for it at all.

“I think it’s important that we speak about it rather than taking the knee and showing respect that way.

“I think it’s important we get the message across on the screen where it’s people actually speaking about it.

“There’s no room in football or life for any forms of racism or discrimination, especially at Doncaster Rovers Football Club.

“As a club, we’re very good on that and we’ll continue to show the video, which hopefully fans can relate to.”

doncasterfreepress/sport/football/why-doncaster-rovers-no-longer-take-the-knee-before-matches 23/8/21

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

The video message from the Doncaster Rovers squad reads as follows:

“Rovers for all is simple - if you are Rovers, you are welcome.

“Football is everyone’s game, no matter who you love, who you are, where you’re from, your race or your faith.

“Discrimination based on any of these characteristics is against the law and is not welcome at our football club.

“We don’t accept it in our stadium and we don’t accept it online.

“If you see discriminatory language being used in the stadium, notify your nearest steward. If you see it online, report it to Kick It Out.

“Together, we can kick it out of football.”

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Millwall manager Gary Rowett has claimed that football needs "to find a better way to unify people" after refusing to condemn supporters for booing the taking of the knee.

Boos were heard at The Den as Fulham's players took a knee before the Championship fixture between the two London sides.
Some of the home side's players elected to raise a fist before the match, with Rowett suggesting the gestures are causing "a rift and divide".

He also urged the "authorities" to tackle racism and discrimination in a "more positive way".

“Up and down the country I think there are so many football clubs that do such good work in their communities around equality and anti-racism," Rowett said.
"We need the authorities to help clubs out and find a better way to unify people.
“I don’t want to comment on individual people’s decisions to do that but we just need to find a way to unify people. At the moment, you know, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, before a game is just causing such a rift and divide. Football is a great spectacle."

This is not the first time that Millwall supporters have booed the taking of the knee - the club released a statement saying they were "saddened and dismayed" after players were booed before the home game against Derby County at the Den last December, though Millwall's players would then stop kneeling, instead asking their opposition to join them in linking arms and displaying an anti-racism banner.
Rowett's comments follow those of Burnley manager Sean Dyche, who said "you can't control people's lives" after boos were heard at Turf Moor at the weekend before his side's game against Brighton.

eurosport/football/championship/2021-2022/football-news-millwall-manager-gary-rowett-claims-taking-the-knee-is-causing-such-a-rift-and-divide - Published 18/08/2021

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Jon Brady has explained the reasons behind Northampton Town's decision not to take the knee this season.

Town opted to kneel before kick-off throughout last season to join the rest of football in the fight against racism, but have chosen not to do so again since the new campaign got up and running.

Neither Port Vale nor the Cobblers took the knee on the opening day of the season, but since then all opponents have knelt ahead of kick-off - often to applause from Sixfields - while Town have stayed standing.

"As a group - players and staff included - we have discussed it at length and obviously we continue to stand against all forms of discrimination," said Brady.

"The reason behind not taking the knee, and this comes from the players and the staff together, is because we believe we shouldn't have to get on our knees to be heard.

"We stand up together against racism, all as one. Everyone has their right to their own opinions and the way they choose to voice their fight against racism and we respect every way in which this can be done.

"But we believe, as a team, there's still a lot more to be done to educate people."

northamptonchron/football/brady-explains-why-cobblers-havent-been-taking-the-knee-this-season 27/8/21

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Fifa and Uefa are failing, taking the knee splits fans and racism goes on.

[Hodgy]

Taking the knee means nothing and will change nothing (probably incites). Sad for the the legitimate people of their country but they must be thrown out of tournaments or the individuals seriously targeted. It’s all too soft yet we talk about it daily. The pictures are clear, set serious examples of the mindless idiots. They are there to be seen - it’s that simple.

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Sept 3, 2021 17:20:59 GMT Hodgy said:

Taking the knee means nothing and will change nothing (probably incites). Sad for the the legitimate people of their country but they must be thrown out of tournaments or the individuals seriously targeted. It’s all too soft yet we talk about it daily. The pictures are clear, set serious examples of the mindless idiots. They are there to be seen - it’s that simple.

Agree with that. I'm not keen on closing grounds or throwing teams out but would tell those countries responsible to get their house in order (ie identify the serious racial abusers (which doesn't equate to booing the knee) and police their grounds better and enforce the banning of the individuals concerned.

The Twitter luvvies say that that's why they have to continue do it.

How exactly does that behaviour in Hungary transpose to Britain so that we need to suffer taking the knee in this country? I've been going to football all of my life but haven't heard any racial abuse. If I heard or saw anything like what apparently went on in Hungary (never saw it because I no longer watch England or the Premier League) then I'd want that person thrown out and banned for a long time, and possibly prosecuted. However, because I want to watch football as it was pre 2020 and not virtue signalling footballers (whether it be 10 seconds or 10 minutes) then I'm apparently the problem.

England knew that they were pouring petrol on the fire but they've dug a whole that they can't seem to get out of. As you say, I heard someone on the radio saying racism getting worse. Where's the surprise, we never get a break. Any reports on the match I heard didn't mention the football.

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Sam Fox face@LestahSam 3/9/21

Saw a game the other week where the players linked arms instead of taking the knee. I'm not anti-knee but I don't think everyone who doesn't want to take the knee is racist.

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

REVEALED: One in three English Football League clubs are no longer taking the knee as they seek other ways to support the fight against racism


Nine clubs in the Championship have moved away from the taking the knee

Three sides in League One have chosen to remain standing prior to games

Premier League duo Wilfried Zaha and Ivan Toney have chosen not to take a knee

Championship side Derby have chosen to huddle before matches instead

A third of the clubs in the English Football League are no longer taking the knee as they seek alternative methods to support the fight against racism.

The Mail on Sunday established that nine of Championship's 24 clubs have moved away from the gesture that clubs have performed before kick-off since the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Three sides in League One have chosen to remain standing this season as have 13 in League Two, including Exeter City and Forest Green, whose players formed a line before kick-off on Saturday and then applauded in unison. The crowd followed suit.

Individual players not to follow team-mates in taking the knee include Premier League pair Wilfried Zaha and Ivan Toney.

Championship sides who remain standing include Bournemouth, Huddersfield Town and Millwall.

A Bournemouth spokesperson said: 'We are encouraging personal choice, if individuals want to take the knee then they can, but the squad felt that actions in the community would be more effective than taking the knee.'

Huddersfield explained that their squad have stopped taking the knee because the players felt it was no longer 'having the desired impact'.

'We are fully supportive of every campaign and initiative that aims to tackle discrimination, such as Kick It Out and Football v Homophobia,' a statement read.

'However, it's clear to us that discrimination is still a real problem in football and society. That's why we felt we had to highlight that more should be done.'

Small groups of fans at clubs in each division have booed players taking the knee this season.

They have included supporters at Premier League sides West Ham, Norwich City, Aston Villa and Burnley, as well as sections of the home crowd at Millwall, Sunderland, Hartlepool, Swindon Town and Rotherham.

Kick It Out, the anti-racism campaign group, said it supported players regardless of how they chose to show their opposition to discrimination in society.

'It's up to them what form their demonstration against racism and discrimination takes,' Tony Burnett, the Kick It Out chief executive, said. 'But whatever the players decide, Kick It Out supports them and would urge fans to get behind them too.'

Burnett added, however, that clubs could be working harder to educate fans around anti-racism issues and building support for players who choose to demonstrate on behalf of them.

In the Championship, Peterborough players now form a huddle rather than take the knee (didn't know that b0252 )

while Derby County's side stand on the centre circle before kick-off.

Sutton United's squad stand arm in arm to express their solidarity with the anti-racism movement.

The EFL, which commissioned independent research to provide guidance on the issue for the new season, said it would continue to support those players who took the knee and those who did not.

'We have heard the message from players who wish to take the knee loud and clear and they continue to have the EFL's support,' they said in a statement.

'Likewise, we back those who have chosen not to take the knee and who fight prejudice in other ways.

'We must all show respect towards one another as collectively as we are stronger when we all work together against discrimination.'

dailymail/One-three-English-Football-League-clubs-stop-taking-knee 5/9/21

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Forest Green Rovers - now that was a surprise:

FGR players will invite their opponents to stand together before games this season against discrimination.

As a group of players, they believe taking the knee has lost some of its impact – and with supporters back in stadiums this season, believe this new approach will spark conversation in the terraces about tackling hate in the game.

We fully support the first-team’s approach for the upcoming season. (Aug 6)

---

If that's good enough for a club run by Dale Vince (Dale Vince OBE is a British "green energy" industrialist. A former New Age traveller, he is the owner of the electricity company Ecotricity.) then it's good enough end of!

[Hodgy]

Sept 6, 2021 21:02:51 GMT Milo (not Mylo!!) said:

Forest Green Rovers - now that was a surprise:

FGR players will invite their opponents to stand together before games this season against discrimination.

As a group of players, they believe taking the knee has lost some of its impact – and with supporters back in stadiums this season, believe this new approach will spark conversation in the terraces about tackling hate in the game.

We fully support the first-team’s approach for the upcoming season. (Aug 6)

---

If that's good enough for a club run by Dale Vince (Dale Vince OBE is a British "green energy" industrialist. A former New Age traveller, he is the owner of the electricity company Ecotricity.) then it's good enough end of!

More importantly don’t forget to have a meat pie before going to the ground.

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Marcos Alonso has announced he will no longer take a knee before kick-off as the Chelsea wing-back claims the gesture is “losing strength”.

The Spaniard becomes the latest player to opt out of the pre-match gesture, which has been in place since the summer of 2020 after the Premier League restarted following the Covid pandemic.

Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha was the first Premier League player to opt out of the gesture, explaining that he felt taking a knee was “degrading”.

And now Alonso has confirmed he will no longer join his teammates in kneeling and will instead point to the Premier League ‘No Room for Racism’ badge on his sleeve.

“I am fully against racism and I’m against every type of discrimination, and I just prefer to put my finger to the badge where it says no to racism, like they do in some other sports and football in other countries,” Alonso said.

“I prefer to do it this way and, of course, to say very clearly that I am against racism and I respect everybody.

“I don’t know,” Alonso added when asked if his decision was influenced by politics. “I just prefer to do it this way. It’s my way to do it, I think it’s another way.

“And maybe I think it’s losing a bit of strength the other way, so I just prefer to do it this way and to show I am fully supportive of fighting against racism.”

Alonso is yet to discuss his decision with his teammates, with Reece James, Antonio Rudiger, N’Golo Kante and Romelu Lukaku all suffering from racist abuse in recent years.

“No, we haven’t talked about it,” Alonso confirmed. “We are in the changing room and we are like a family. I have a very good relationship with everyone, I love everyone and up to now we haven’t talked about it.

“I don’t think there is a need to, but, of course, if I have to speak to anyone, I will say the same thing I just told you and I don’t think there will be any problems.”

“Yeah, for now I prefer to point to the sleeve and that’s what I will do,” Alonso concluded when asked if the move would last until the end of the current campaign.

independent/sport/football 21/9/21

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

22/9/21 - ditched Skysports ages ago so don't know if this is true apart from Tyler being very irritating and liking the sound of his own voice - interesting to see the reaction though if he did say that, what a div

Ricky@BritishRicky - Wait, did Martin Atkinson (think that he means Tyler) just say players who don’t take the knee get boos? Hahahah how can someone be so out of touch with the fans when he’s there every week? One of the weirdest things I’ve ever heard a commentator say. #mufc #MUNWHU #nonce

Samuel@SAJsport - Martin Tyler trending as per usual making some dumb comments about players who don't take the knee. Making me appreciate the Spanish commentators a bit more on the Tottenham stream I'm watching.

Gareth Davies@Gwd2570Gareth Replying to@SkyFootball - Does the commentator realise that he just condoned the booing of players who elect not to take the knee?? That’s a new one on me and I’m sure @wilfriedzaha would have something to say about that view

Hammer Paul MkII@PTone2021 “The players who don’t take the knee are the ones that get booed … we’re moving on” Shut up Tyler ffs!! Does that include the black players? Idiot!!

f3aok@f3aok @skysports Rather than trying to vilify players who make the decision not to take the knee Tyler should just stick to his job rather than guessing who the boos are aimed at.

Paul McCluskey@PaulMcC56017463 Replying to@henrywinter - Did I just hear correctly, Martin Tyler saying it's refreshing to hear the players who don't take the knee getting booed??

mark Reid@reidmark204 Martin Tyler saying it's good that don't take the knee are getting booed but when players were getting booed for taking the knee was disgusted because it was their freedom of choice to do it hypocrite.

Jake@Jake___2003 Martin Tyler just said that players who don’t take the knee should be booed (did he say that or just that the booing was for those who don't take the knee? Which is obviously cobblers) - does that count for Wilfred Zaha, Martin? A shameful comment that will be completely brushed aside by agenda-ridden Sky Sports.

Rick Sacrop@RickSacrop Sky sports obscuring players that didn't take the knee in this evening's game Man Utd v W Ham and saying that the booing is for those who didn't kneel. Funny that they also boo when everyone kneels. Reminds me of the Nazi propaganda when England played Germany just before WW2.

𝓢𝓮𝓷𝓼𝓮𝓲 𝓜𝓪𝓴𝓸(Rob)@wownut “The players who don’t take the knee are the ones who get booed.” WTF are you going on about Martin Tyler? #MUNWHU

Steven Gentle@StevieGeee5 "The players that don’t take the knee get booed”Man facepalming Jesus Christ mate, there’s black players that don’t take the knee fella..... but you obviously know best Martin Tyler @skyfootball

J@__JMBAV Replying to@densk14 I guess he also agrees with Ivan Toney being booed when he and his Brentford team don’t take the knee every week. (although Brentford the team do now I believe)

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Les Kaye@LesLk52 26/9/21

How refreshing was it yesterday to see @mansfieldtownfc players refuse to take the knee #lofc

club website: "Stags ‘stood up’ to Orient test - manager"

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MF@mfpbs1Replying to @stillberto 26/9/21

I went to welling vs Dartford yesterday and the Dartford players didn’t take the knee no one booed or what not each to their own

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Why MK Dons will not be taking the knee but making their own anti-discrimination gesture in the future - miltonkeynes/sport/football/why-mk-dons-will-not-be-taking-the-knee-but-making-their-own-anti-discrimination-gesture-in-the-future-24/9/21

MK Dons will not take the knee as part of the EFL’s anti-racism message on Saturday, but will make a stand of their own instead as they wait for proper repercussions and sanctions to be handed out.

Kneeling before kick-off has been a regular sight throughout the leagues, but last Saturday against Gillingham, Dons stood arm-in-arm in the centre circle instead.

Last season, both David Kasumu and Zak Jules said taking the knee had lost its impact because there were no follow-up punishments for incidents of racism and it became an empty gesture.

Talking about his side’s decision to stand rather than kneel, Liam Manning explained: “It was a collective decision. The players spoke to me about it.

“Let's be clear - we're all against discrimination and racism, I think everyone is on the same page at this football club.

“We've been doing it for quite a while now, but what it can't become is just being a part of the process at the start of the game.

“You can see a few players and clubs are starting to feel the frustration with it. I totally agree we need to show we stand against it but we can only stir up the interest and the amount of media coverage it had in the early days, but the next bit is now that there needs to be serious sanctions and repercussions when it does happen.

The frustration from some players, clubs and people in the sport is that we've raised a huge amount of coverage, but the next bit has to go above our heads to governing bodies and big companies. There has to be sanctions and the repercussions and everyone is waiting for that to happen.

“How long does it go on for before things change? That's what the group is speaking about. I'm in full support of the group here, and we 100 per cent want to show we're united against it, but what's next? What's going to happen?”

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Toney: Brentford back me on not taking a knee

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Well, did my first football match since before lockdown (Feb or March 2020) and for the first time came face to face with the pointless exercise of taking the knee (not Posh thankfully) after being told that we stand or fight (can't recall the exact term used which tells what a virtue signalling exercise it is) against racism. Well who in their right mind doesn't? 99% percent of the crowd are not racist anyway and if the pissed 1% who were telling us from their walk from coach to ground that Peterborough is a sh*thole are going to take notice of anything short of ECT then someone has seriously misjudged the situation.

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Watford midfielder Juraj Kucka has explained the reasons behind him choosing not to take the knee before matches.

The Slovak joined the Hornets at the beginning of the season and has not accompanied his teammates or opponents as they take part in the anti-racism protests prior to kick off, as they have since the Premier League resumed following the interruption due to coronavirus in 2020.

In a post on his Instagram account, the 34-year-old said he was completely against racism and understood those who wanted to take the knee, but did not want to join the protest because he respects "everyone equally".

It reads: "I am strongly against RACISM in the world!!! I did not take a knee in the last match, because I respect everyone equally. I have never looked down on anybody and I have never condemned anybody just because they were of a different skin color. I understand the gesture of taking the knee as a manifestation of the fight against racism and I understand those who do it, but this is my decision. Thank you for respecting me. STOP RACISM!!!"

The symbolic gesture has spread across sports since 2016 when at an American football game, Colin Kaepernick and his 49ers teammate Eric Reid chose to kneel during the playing of the US national anthem, in an attempt to call attention to the issues of racial inequality and police brutality.

Footballers in England adopted the protest in 2020 after an increase in racial abuse directed at them via social media.

Since then, players have continued to use the display before matches, with racism still a problem within the game, particularly online.

In a recent interview with the Guardian, former Watford captain Troy Deeney said he still receives eight or nine racial insults every day via his social media platforms.

He called on the websites to do more to prevent it from happening.

"We need Covid passports, and ID to buy cigarettes or alcohol. But you can go online, racially abuse someone, delete that account, make another one, do the same thing again and go, boom, boom, boom. Social media platforms are getting away with it," he said.

"Twitter say they’re only providing the platform and they can’t control what is said between me and some guy called Sam. I find that baffling."

Kucka is not the only player to decline to take part in the protest, nor is he the only Watford player either.

In December 2020 players from Millwall and QPR said they would no longer participate, but would instead stand arm-in-arm.

Brentford players stopped doing it back in February, but reversed their decision for the current Premier League season, although striker Ivan Toney chooses not to take part.

Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha also stands while his teammates continue to kneel while Emmanuel Dennis, who also arrived at Vicarage Road at the start of this season, is another who stands at kick off.

watfordobserver/juraj-kucka-chooses-not-take-knee-watford 6/10/21

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Ex-City striker Cameron Jerome on why he doesn't take the knee and football's battle against racism

Former Norwich City striker Cameron Jerome has revealed why he thinks standing is a more powerful stance against racism than taking the knee.

Cameron Jerome is fearful that his skin colour will prevent him from forging a career in coaching after his retirement from professional football.

The ex-Norwich City striker is now 35 and is beginning to consider what his life might look like after he calls time on his career. Jerome is currently with Championship side Luton Town but is yet to score in nine appearances.

Racism in football has been a topic of intense debate for the last year, with players continuing to take a knee in the Premier League before the beginning of matches in protest against the inequality many ethnic minorities face in modern society.

For Jerome, however, he believes the meaning behind the protest has faded somewhat and Luton's first-team squad have elected to stand as a collective by the centre circle before kick-off as an alternative.

The former Canaries striker has been speaking about why he thinks that holds greater significance than the taking of a knee.

"It's become more of a cowardly act now where the trolling's become quite relevant and not just racism but all sorts of abuse," he said.

"Online, it's become quite easy just to sit behind a desk or just have your phone and abuse somebody for gender, race or any sort of difference.

"Everyone had started taking the knee and it sort of just faded for me. It really hit home for me and I was thinking 'you know what?' Why are we actually still doing this and nothing's been done about it?' (and they'll tell you that it's not virtue signalling, or worse,they'll tell you that's why they are doing it and why it needs to continue) )

"I think standing sends an even stronger message for me. We took a united front as a team and as a club. We're going to stand together and we're going to stand proud."

Jerome scored 42 goals for Norwich in 138 appearances for the club between 2014 and 2018, including the opening goal in their play-off triumph over Middlesborough at Wembley in 2015.

Spells with Derby, Turkish outfit Goztepe and MK Dons followed before he returned to the Championship this summer with Luton.

Despite having aspirations of becoming a manager or a coach after he hangs up his boots, Jerome is concerned about the lack of a pathway for black coaches. At present, there are only seven BAME coaches in managerial positions in the top four divisions of English football.

"Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, who have played at the top, top level, have gone out and got top jobs in their first jobs but you have someone like Sol Campbell, who was England captain as well, goes to Macclesfield, then he goes to Southend," he told Look East.

"You've got top players coming out of the game who are coming out of the game. It's disheartening really. I've had a good career behind me, I'm really interested in coaching but there's just not a pathway for me."

edp24/sport/norwich-city/canaries-ncfc-cameron-jerome-luton-town-racism 8/10/21

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

@paulsoxy 9/10/21

So great to see Forest Green and Swindon stand together in solidarity, rather than take the knee...

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Leyton Orient@leytonorientfc 9/10/21
·
"We don't feel the knee is making the impact we want it to."

@hectorkyp (Hector Kyprianou) spoke about the squad's decision to stand against racism, rather than take the knee.

#LOFC #OnlyOneOrient

[Milo (not Mylo!!)]

Why increasing number of footballers have stopped taking the knee

John Barnes tells Sky News he believes "football can do nothing to change racism" and there have been signs that an increasing number of players are questioning the impact of taking the knee. So what is the future of the protest and has it achieved its aim?

It's been a regular sight before Premier League and England matches for more than a year, but footballers taking a knee "isn't going to change anything", according to one former Three Lions star.

John Barnes was repeatedly racially abused while playing for Watford and Liverpool in the 1980s - including being pelted with bananas on the pitch - and he believes "football can do nothing to change racism".

"Until we change the perception of the average black person, we will never combat racism," he tells Sky News.

"Any discrimination towards any footballer is a very small, minute part of racial discrimination towards black people.

"Is taking the knee going to change someone who's racially biased?
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"They can take the knee as much as they want. Taking the knee isn't going to change anything."

England footballers were jeered by Hungary fans as they knelt before Tuesday night's match at Wembley, which was marred by violence from the away supporters.

Some England supporters booed their own players for taking the knee before the Euro championships earlier this year over apparent opposition to the Black Lives Matter organisation, which has called for the police to be "defunded".

Gareth Southgate's players have repeatedly insisted they are not making a political gesture and they are simply reinforcing the message that racism and discrimination will not be tolerated.

But there have been signs in recent weeks that an increasing number of players are questioning the impact of the gesture, which was introduced to the English game in June 2020.

Outside England's top division, more than a third of Football League clubs are now reported to have stopped kneeling before kick-off.

Meanwhile, Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso is the latest Premier League player to stop taking the knee, saying he believes it is "losing a bit of strength", and opting instead to point to an anti-racism badge on his sleeve.

He followed in the footsteps of Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha who said the gesture was "degrading", and Brentford striker Ivan Toney after he argued players were being "used as puppets".

• So what is the future of the protest and has it achieved its aim in the fight against racism in football?

The boss of Kick It Out, football's anti-racism organisation, admits he's been left frustrated at having to talk about the gesture so often and isn't sure if players will continue with it next season.

"Between now and next August is a long time in football," Tony Burnett tells Sky News.

"I think it has been a talking point… I think we've just missed an opportunity.

"I genuinely don't think a lot of people who are supportive of players taking the knee are really clear about what the issues are, other than online discrimination."

He adds: "Part of my frustration on this is I've spent a lot of time in the last six months - quite rightly - talking about taking the knee.

"Actually what we need to be talking about is racism - where it comes from, how it manifests in our society, how it impacts our game, and what we need to be doing to tackle it. That discussion hasn't been had enough."

Burnett believes some critics of players taking the knee have been "disingenuous" about the reasons for their opposition.

"I think there's a certain section of our population that would have a problem whatever gesture the players chose," he says.

"I'm not saying for a second that everybody who is against taking the knee is racist.

"What I am saying is there is a sizeable minority who, whatever gesture those players chose to stand up against racism, would not have been appropriate (for them), because they don't want to see any activity standing up against things that a lot of us just find abhorrent.

"I think the people who are saying this is politically motivated, I think they are the ones who are disingenuous because I've never heard a player say anything about politics when it comes to this."

• 'Football can do nothing to change racism. End of story'

Barnes - who has written a new book called The Uncomfortable Truth About Racism - believes the "very basic point" of taking the knee has been lost and compared it to the Me Too movement.

He says: "The Me Too movement was started by a woman called Tarana Burke many years ago about the sexual abuse that young black girls in inner cities were going through.

"Then it was hijacked by a group of women in Hollywood and elite women to then talk about Harvey Weinstein and other people.

"Now people think the Me Too movement is about Hollywood actors or women in the public eye who are being sexually abused and the message is now lost and forgotten about... just like taking the knee is.

"Taking the knee is now talking about Marxism and should they take a knee, and defunding the police - which is not what it's about.

"It's just about the very basic point of black lives mattering."

Barnes believes the debate over taking the knee has distracted from discussing "real change" to tackle racism.

"Football can do nothing to change racism. End of story," he says.

"The whole idea of things changing because Raheem Sterling scores goals and he's going to influence people's thoughts is ridiculous.

"At the moment we still believe that black people, gay people, women, aren't as worthy as white middle class men.

"Once we get rid of that - that's not to say we'll have equality because we won't, because that's the environment we live in - but it will be fairer in terms of the discrimination.

"We live in a capitalist environment where the majority have to be discriminated against by the minority - that's what it is."

• 'Some of the institutions within football have got to change'

Burnett says he understands why some players feel taking the knee has "served its purpose" and he wants to see "tangible change" this season to tackle discrimination in football.

He says around 30% of elite footballers are from black backgrounds but the number of black people in coaching, management and other senior roles "is nowhere near enough".

"Either we say black and Asian coaches aren't as talented or it's not a meritocracy and they're not getting the opportunity to step into those roles. I'm absolutely certain it's the latter," Burnett tells Sky News.

"Some of the institutions within football have got to change. Refereeing for example - there is one black referee in the top four divisions of English football.

"We can all remember Uriah Rennie because he was the last prominent black person that refereed and he's been retired for 15 years.

"There are four black or Asian referees in the top seven leagues in England. That is nowhere near representative of the UK population.

"We've got to see some of those numbers move before people really start believing the rhetoric and the platitudes.

"There's been a lot of platitudes in the last 18 months. I get the fact that actually that for some, the knee has kind of served its purpose - we've got to see the action now."

Meanwhile, Barnes has called for more footballers to follow the example of Marcus Rashford whose campaign for free meals for underprivileged children during the school holidays forced the government into a U-turn.

"He used his platform to talk about people less fortunate than himself," Barnes says.

"If more elite people were to do that, instead of saying we need more black managers and we need more black people in the boardroom, imagine what could be done to really affect change for kids in the inner cities or women or gay people."

news.sky/story/footballers-taking-the-knee-isnt-going-to-change-anything-says-ex-england-star (Wednesday 13 October 2021)

[rodders]

I personally believe that taking the knee has done more harm than good.