Football

Wilfried Zaha becomes the first footballer in the Premier League to refuse to 'take the knee'

Wilfried Zaha becomes the first footballer in the Premier League to refuse to 'take the knee'
Football

Wilfried Zaha becomes the first footballer in the Premier League to refuse to 'take the knee'

Wilfried Zaha becomes the first footballer in the Premier League to refuse to 'take the knee'

Last month, the 28 year old Ivorian, revealed that he felt the gesture to promote anti-racism and anti-discrimination was degrading to him as a black man. The Crystal Palacestar vowed he would not be taking part in the pre-match symbol which has been in place since last summer.

Wilfried Zaha remained standing as the other players went down on one knee

Since then, Zaha had been sidelined through injury so had been unable to make his own personal stand. However, when he returned to the starting line-up for the Premier League clash with West Brom on Saturday; Zaha stayed standing while the rest of the players on the pitch took the knee just after the ref; Simon Hooper blew the whistle before Kick off.

Wilfried Zaha announced that h would stop taking the knee last month

In a statement released just minutes later, Zaha wrote: "My decision to stand at kick-off has been public knowledge for a couple of weeks now"

."There is no right or wrong decision", he added."But for me personally 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"."I know there is a lot of work being done behind the scenes at the Premier League and other authorities to make a change, and I fully respect that, and everyone involved", he concluded.

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