Six Premier League Players Choose Not to Take the Knee This Weekend

Several Premier League Players Opt Out of Taking the Knee

During this weekend's fixtures, six players in the Premier League decided not to take the knee as part of the 'No Room For Racism' campaign, which coincides with Black History Month. One of these players was a notable Leeds United forward facing Manchester United.

The Gesture and Its Background

The act of taking the knee was introduced by the Premier League in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It began during Project Restart when players protested racial injustice following the killing of George Floyd by police officers in the United States. Although the gesture is not performed every week in 2026, the league scheduled two weekends in October dedicated to it.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin Stands While Others Kneel

In Leeds United’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Elland Road, Dominic Calvert-Lewin stood while his teammates and opponents knelt before kickoff. Calvert-Lewin’s decision marks the second consecutive year he has refrained from kneeling. Leeds manager Daniel Farke addressed the matter, explaining:

"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."

Farke also responded to reports of boos inside the stadium when players took the knee, praising the campaign's message:

"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. Different passports, different languages, different religions, but they are all together as human beings and friends who work together toward one target. This is how the world should be."

Other Players Who Chose Not to Kneel

Calvert-Lewin was joined by five other Premier League players who remained standing. Everton defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles was the first player to refuse the gesture this weekend before Everton’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea. In the match between Manchester City and Ipswich Town, Marc Guehi and Issa Diop stayed on their feet. On Sunday, Bournemouth’s Rayan and Tyler Adams also chose not to kneel.

These players are not viewed as disrespecting the campaign and will not face any sanctions. Rather, they appear to be showing respect in the way they believe is right for them.

Upcoming Premier League Fixtures

• Oct 19, 8:00pm: Tottenham Hotspur vs Coventry
• Oct 23, 8:00pm: Ipswich Town vs Nottingham Forest
• Oct 24, 12:30pm: Aston Villa vs Manchester City
• Oct 24, 3:00pm: Coventry vs Fulham
• Oct 24, 3:00pm: Arsenal vs Everton
• Oct 24, 5:30pm: Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur
• Oct 25, 2:00pm: Manchester United vs Middlesbrough
• Oct 25, 2:00pm: Liverpool vs Brighton
• Oct 25, 2:00pm: Hull City vs Brentford
• Oct 25, 2:00pm: Crystal Palace vs Newcastle United
• Oct 25, 4:30pm: Sunderland vs Leeds United
• Oct 31, 12:30pm: Chelsea vs Manchester United
• Oct 31, 3:00pm: Manchester City vs Brighton
• Oct 31, 3:00pm: Hull City vs Ipswich Town
• Oct 31, 3:00pm: Coventry vs Sunderland
• Oct 31, 3:00pm: Brentford vs Nottingham Forest
• Oct 31, 3:00pm: Middlesbrough vs Leeds United
• Oct 31, 5:30pm: Tottenham Hotspur vs Crystal Palace
• Oct 31, 8:00pm: Aston Villa vs Fulham
• Nov 1, 4:30pm: Liverpool vs Arsenal