Image source, Getty Images
Marc Guehi has opted to clap rather than take the knee
ByTom Grundy
BBC Sport senior journalist
Premier League clubs took the knee this weekend for the first time this season as part of October's No Room for Racism campaign.
But six players across five clubs chose to remain standing during the pre-match gesture:
Tyler Adams (Bournemouth)
Rayan (Bournemouth)
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds)
Issa Diop (Ipswich)
Marc Guehi (Manchester City)
Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Everton)
Speaking before Manchester City's Champions League game on Tuesday, Guehi was asked whether it had lost its impact.
"I haven't been taking the knee for a while now. I always clap, just because of what that actually signifies," said the England international.
"I don't think it's necessarily a football issue, I think it's a wider societal issue and football is just that beacon of hope to try and get the message out.
"The message is still there, which is great. More can always be done. I think we should see how we can move the campaign along."
The Premier League maintains that taking the knee is a decision led by the players and that it is supportive of whatever stance they choose to take.
Premier League players began taking the knee in 2020 following the death of George Floyd and the subsequent Black Lives Matter protests.
The campaign was limited to selected matches following an agreement by club captains before the 2022-23 campaign.
This season, captains agreed to take the knee during October's No Room For Racism fixtures, which coincide with Black History Month in the UK.
The other five players who did not take the knee this weekend have not publicly commented, but Leeds manager Daniel Farke explained Calvert-Lewin's position.
"Dom is more or less like, 'no, I don't go down. I show my respect by standing up'. Every individual is different and shows respect for this campaign in a different way," said Farke.
"It's definitely a good campaign and a good topic that football and sports, in general, support situations like this because a dressing room is a perfect example of how we should all live together."
Former Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha became the first Premier League player to stop taking the knee in 2021.
"I feel kneeling has just become a part of the pre-match routine and at the moment it doesn't matter whether we kneel or stand, some of us still continue to receive abuse," he said at the time.
Image source, Getty Images
Calvert-Lewin (left) remained standing while other players took the knee before Sunday's match between Leeds United and Manchester United
Announcing this month's campaign,, external the Premier League said: "Players will be taking the knee before kick-off during the next two match rounds to show unity against all forms of discrimination."
Kick It Out told BBC Sport that taking the knee "still has value in raising awareness of the structural inequalities that exist in football and society."
"We can also understand the reasons players might become frustrated with the pace of change," they added.
Between 2021-22 and 2025-26, reports of both discrimination and racism received by the charity more than doubled, and reached record levels last season.
High-profile cases have also highlighted the continuing abuse faced by players.
After England defender Jess Carter received racist abuse online during last summer's Women's Euros, the Lionesses stopped taking the knee.
"Taking the knee, that's not enough. We have done that for a while. The impact is not good enough, it's not as big as we think," said England manager Sarina Wiegman at the time.
In February, Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana, Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare and Sunderland winger Romaine Mundle were all subjected to racist abuse on social media over a single weekend.
A BBC Sport investigation also identified 22,389 potentially abusive messages across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X over a separate weekend.
Nevertheless, 2025 YouGov polling, external found a majority of ethnic minority football fans in Britain still considered taking the knee important in tackling racism - although most football fans overall in England did not.
The No Room For Racism campaign extends beyond taking the knee.
"We are using the reach of our players to send an important message: we are united in the fight against racism," said Premier League chief executive Richard Masters.
Players have also helped develop educational resources about diversity, available to more than 19,000 primary schools across England and Wales.
"I think it's important for young people to see role models who look like them, to see that they can achieve anything. It doesn't matter who you are, what you do or how you look," said Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk as part of the campaign.
"It means a lot to me to represent my community on and off the pitch."
Extracted and lightly reformatted for readability. · Source: pt