Premier League captains in talks over whether to continue taking a knee

[Mr Pink]

Can't believe it went on as long as it did.

It actually devalued it in the end.

 

[ERO]

What's everyone's problem with it?

I won't mind if they stop doing it, but it has not had an iota of negative impact on me and if it triggers anyone I'm happy for them to continue doing it long after everyone's forgotten why it started.

 

[Locotoro]

Probably all the more reason to keep it.

saying that though it feels lazy now, like authorities can just point and say look we are still doing our bit.

This.

As someone who has suffered racial abuse most my life I'd rather deal with overt racism than racism that is hidden under the veil of a smile because then I'm not caught off guard.

But the taking the knee is symbolic and gives higher ups the chance to say "we support the anti discrimination stance by allowing players to take the knee.

It's not enough on its own. At the same time, we all knew that it would stop at some point and everything would go back to how it was before until the next instance of public racist abuse

 

[Locotoro]

I think they need to do far more of it.
They need to do a gesture for gay rights - that is also a serious problem within the game.
Then a gesture for equality of the sexes - girls don't get the same opportunities to play the game, plus there is all that rapey stuff the players do. They need to reflect on that too.
Then a gesture for the victims of the ukraine war given how much money the Russians have pumped into the game to sportswash their activities. The blood money helps pay the players inflated wages.
Then a gesture for human rights given where the WC is about to be played and the Saudi/middle east money that has poured into the game to sportswash their horrific regimes. Reflect on that too.

These are all important issues within the game along with racism and if it takes an hour to run through the lot of them, so be it. But I also think they should do it on their own time. They are not in a position to lecture anyone.

Genuine and honest question

Why do people always talk about the atrocities committed by the Russians against Ukraine and how we have to do everything to support them but not mention any of the equally atrocious acts of war and genocide in any other countries like Yemen or Uyghur people. Surely the Saudis and Chinese are equally culpable of sport washing in the Premier League as the Russians?

I know this isn't the thread for it and I know I'll get neg repped for asking, and this is not aimed at you but it's something I can't quite get my head around. Lots of talk about how we should accommodate Ukraine but not much talk about how we help other equally oppressed people who are less European looking.

Disclaimer: The below paragraph are feelings of a highly triggered guy that is sick of the tokenism of people in mainstream media which only serve to further highlight their prejudices against people who are "different" from them. The rant below should be considered in the context which it is meant. Thank you.

I'll just add one example of how this triggered me. When Wales played Ukraine and knocked them out of the Euro qualifiers you had Graeme fucking Souness sitting there saying "We should give Ukraine a free pass to the Euro finals regardless of the result - the people deserve it at the very least". Graeme Souness, you fucking mug. What about the people of every other war-torn country like Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Palestine, Uyghurs, people in Central Africa and in Congo that are all living with daily oppression. You fucking mug Graeme Souness do they not get your endorsement for a free pass in football tournaments or are they not worthy.

 

[ERO]

"We should give Ukraine a free pass to the Euro finals regardless of the result - the people deserve it at the very least". Graeme Souness, you fucking mug. What about the people of every other war-torn country like Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Palestine, Uyghurs, people in Central Africa and in Congo that are all living with daily oppression.

Don't think they were even in the qualifiers for the Euros, mate ?

 

[Col_M]

So that racism sorted, now for the CoLC

 

[SpursForever71]

I don't think it's now achieving anything other than giving mindless racists in certain countries the opportunity to boo it just to show they are racist.

completely agree, i think it is now having the reverse effect as to what it was for in the 1st place

 

[Locotoro]

Don't think they were even in the qualifiers for the Euros, mate ?

That's why I said football tournaments and not Euros because there's always one smart arse

 

[parj]

Keep doing it. Racism is real. Taking the knee keeps racism in the spotlight, it's not going to get swept under the rug. People might not like it but it's still causing people to talk about racism and not just accept it.

 

[Black]

Sounds like people are up for sweeping under the rug, "if it doesn't effect me it's not an issue" Mentality.

 

[Armstrong_11]

When I read Captains and Knees... i do think of ledley.

Personally, I am fine with it, I think it's a good reminder. I really enjoyed that 1 min for mental health or something that was a thing a while back.

sports these days have a global reach, if the message of equality can be shared with a wide audience, I think that's a positive.

 

[allatsea]

Sounds like people are up for sweeping under the rug, "if it doesn't effect me it's not an issue" Mentality.

Which people ?

 

[spursfan77]

From a footballing perspective it was good. It made the players focus their minds and be totally ready for kick off. Shin pads in place, laces tied. How many times in the past were our players seemingly not ready for kick off? Quite a few from memory.

It had to stop at some point. From a racism angle, I’d much rather the FA put some proper grass roots education in place within clubs going forward. The stories coming out of Chelsea and what happened there for decades shouldn’t have happened and I bet still goes on in clubs up and down the country albeit probably not as widespread.

 

[Stamford]

I think it should stop. Its a conversation starter which is positive but i would rather they did something concrete ratheer than this personally.

 

[worcestersauce]

I thought it was time to stop last year but following the abuse following the Euro penalty players and after reading something Harry Kane said I realised I was wrong.
I did notice by the end of the season the TV commentators saying the official words to accompany it were sounding a bit tired, a bit bland and so I really do think this may be the right time.
That said the fight must go on.

 

[Led's Zeppelin]

I was in the park the other day and heard a dad explain to a few young kids why players take the knee. They all then did it before falling over each other trying to play a game of football that looked more like a game of Twister, if anyone remembers that prehistoric groping game.

But it made me think that yes, taking the knee as a symbol still has a value.

It’s not nearly enough on its own, obviously, but I think we should retain it as a small reminder that some problems still require everyone’s attention.

If we really care, it should be one part of a far larger active programme of eduction. But symbols can have a value.

 

[Gassin's finest]

This.

As someone who has suffered racial abuse most my life I'd rather deal with overt racism than racism that is hidden under the veil of a smile because then I'm not caught off guard.

But the taking the knee is symbolic and gives higher ups the chance to say "we support the anti discrimination stance by allowing players to take the knee.

It's not enough on its own. At the same time, we all knew that it would stop at some point and everything would go back to how it was before until the next instance of public racist abuse

This is a good point that I hadn't considered. The FA etc can just point to that and say its enough, so they get out of actually having to do anything with substance.

 

[ERO]

I was in the park the other day and heard a dad explain to a few young kids why players take the knee. They all then did it before falling over each other trying to play a game of football that looked more like a game of Twister, if anyone remembers that prehistoric groping game.

But it made me think that yes, taking the knee as a symbol still has a value.

It’s not nearly enough on its own, obviously, but I think we should retain it as a small reminder that some problems still require everyone’s attention.

If we really care, it should be one part of a far larger active programme of eduction. But symbols can have a value.

If I could I'd winner rep this once for the point made and once more for prehistoric groping game.

 

[Geez]

Premier League players to limit taking a knee​

Premier League players will stop the pre-match anti-racism gesture of taking the knee before every match.

The gesture will instead be seen before certain rounds of games, including the Boxing Day fixtures and cup finals.

Players and staff will also take the knee before the first and last matches of the 2022-23 campaign as well as dedicated No Room for Racism match rounds in October and March.

 

[Pochie]

Glad it will still happen. The most important thing is what the education and anti-racist focus will be now. Not just dropping some of this but what to supplement it with?