Photo via BBC Sport

Guehi among players not to take knee - is it time to 'move campaign along'?

Six Premier League players across five clubs chose not to participate in this season’s No Room for Racism campaign by taking the knee before matches, raising questions about the gesture’s continued relevance. Among them was Manchester City’s Marc Guehi, who explained his preference for clapping instead, framing the issue as a broader societal challenge rather than one confined to football.

Guehi, an England international, suggested the campaign should evolve, noting that while awareness remains important, more action is needed beyond symbolic gestures. Leeds United’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin also stood during the pre-match moment, with his manager, Daniel Farke, emphasizing that players express respect in different ways—whether through kneeling, standing, or other forms of solidarity.

The Premier League has maintained that the decision to kneel or not is ultimately up to the players, a stance reinforced after the campaign’s introduction in 2020 following the death of George Floyd. This season’s initiative, tied to Black History Month, saw captains lead the gesture during October fixtures, though not all players aligned with the collective approach.

Former Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha had previously criticized the kneeling as routine, arguing it no longer carries the same impact amid persistent racial abuse.

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