The English Premier League clubs are preparing to resume the championship competitions this weekend, amid special preparations for the eighth and ninth rounds, which will witness the return of awareness against racism, within the framework of the “No Place for Racism” initiative supervised by the English Football Association, with the participation of all clubs and players.
The wheel of the English Premier League will return to turning again next Saturday, after the international break for the month of October, which witnessed the participation of a large number of Premier League stars with their national teams.
Chelsea will open the eighth round of competitions next Saturday, when it hosts Nottingham Forest in a match that will be held at 2:30 pm London time, at the beginning of a series of awaited confrontations within a crowded schedule before the end of the year.
The knee gesture comes back in two straight rounds
In a step that confirms the clubs’ continued commitment to combating all forms of discrimination, The Athletic Network revealed that English Premier League players will return to performing the kneeling gesture before the start of matches, as an expression of their support for the campaign against racism in stadiums and society alike.
This symbolic gesture will be implemented in the eighth and ninth round matches, as part of the “No Place for Racism” campaign, which is held annually as part of the English Premier League’s efforts to promote the values of equality and justice in football.
Masters: The gesture is not obligatory but it is effective
For his part, Richard Masters, President of the English Premier League, explained that performing the knee gesture is optional and not mandatory for players, noting that the League left the decision to each player individually.
Masters said in his statements: “The players will perform this gesture during the “No Place for Racism” rounds, and after that they can decide whether they want to continue with it or stop. We want to make sure that every action taken in this context is truly effective and has an impact.”
Background of the gesture: from protest to commitment
The use of the knee gesture dates back to 2020, following the killing of George Floyd, an African-American man, at the hands of a white policeman in the United States, an incident that sparked a global wave of protests against systemic racism.
English Premier League players began using the gesture in June 2020, following the resumption of sporting activity after the hiatus resulting from the Corona pandemic.
The gesture was carried out regularly before matches, until the Premier League later decided to limit its frequency, and limit its use to symbolic periods or rounds related to issues of equality and anti-discrimination.
