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West Ham and Chelsea players take a knee at London Stadium in support of the Premier League’s No Room For Racism campaign… and the move will be repeated in the top flight over the next two weekends.
Players in West Ham’s clash against Chelsea on Saturday afternoon took a knee before kick-off to mark the return of the Premier League’s No Room For Racism weekend.
The London Stadium saw players take a knee before the derby match in a symbol of unity against racism in all its forms, with the move expected to be repeated over the next two match weekends.
Previously, most games had seen players take a knee before kickoff, but now only select game weeks involve the declaration.
The opening game of the season was marked by the knee of the players, as well as a round of games in October and the games immediately after the World Cup.
The No Room For Racism campaign emblem and slogan were also displayed at London Stadium on LED advertising boards, the match ball pedestal and on a large screen.
Players at the London Stadium took a knee before kick-off to support the No Room For Racism campaign.
The gesture will take place at Premier League grounds over the next two weekends.
No Room For Racism became visible at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon
The captains of the Premier League clubs collectively decided that players should not take a knee before every game, but rather it should be spread out throughout the season.
No Room For Racism aims to send a clear message that discrimination is not tolerated in football, or in society in general, and hopes to show that diversity makes the game stronger. according to the Premier League.
The club’s captains collectively made the decision to spread the gesture across multiple games throughout the season, rather than before each game.
The kneeling gesture has received some criticism in the past, with some claiming that it had become something of a symbolic gesture.
Ivan Toney was notably the only player in five top-flight games to remain standing at kick-off in October, having become disillusioned with the token act last season.
“Everyone agrees that we have been on our knees for a long time and nothing has changed yet,” he said.
We are being used as puppets.
Rio Ferdinand also insisted that more must be done to combat racism in sport and that spreading the statement throughout the season diluted the impact of the message it set out to convey.
“Like it or not, someone will be educated when that question comes up,” he said in October.
The emblem and the name of the campaign were emblazoned on the pedestal that holds the ball before kick-off.
‘I think it takes away the impact when you only see it in a few games. It sparks a conversation. Whether you agree or not, that’s what you need to try to fight racism.
“Football is not going to eradicate it, but it is a topic of conversation that is what you need.”
But Joleon Lescott argued that getting the message out had to go on at all costs, as it raises awareness about ‘the problems that people go through’.
“I went to the Lionesses at the weekend and my daughter asked me why they were doing it,” the former England defender said in October.
“I hadn’t realized that she wasn’t aware of racism and the issues that people go through, so she definitely keeps doing it because it has an impact.”
Joleon Lescott had urged Premier League players to continue taking a knee before matches
Rio Ferdinand said soccer won’t eradicate racism, but the gesture sparks conversation