There seems to have been a marked increase in social media racist abuse in recent weeks and a similar increase in unrest over players 'taking the knee' before televised football matches. Both players and viewers are speaking out about where we go from here.
Palace star Wilfred Zaha stated his intention to no longer kneel before games. He said "We’re trying to say that we’re equal but we’re isolating ourselves with these things that aren’t even working anyway. I feel like we should stand tall and now I don’t really tend to speak on racism and stuff like that because I’m not here just to tick boxes.”
Several clubs chose to not take the knee in the past week, led by Brentford, whose striker Ivan Toney believes players are being used as puppets. He said "the gesture is allowing people at the top to rest on the subject and nothing has changed as a result. We have had a long discussion about that; why we are not taking a knee. Everyone has had their say, and everyone agrees that we have been taking the knee for however long now and still nothing has changed. We are kind of being used as puppets. It is pretty silly and pretty pointless. Nothing is changing. The punishments need to be stronger."
Whichever side of the fence you sit, it looks increasingly like the gesture has now run its course. In my opinion, players should be permitted to express themselves however they wish. Now that high profile players have made their position clear no doubt others will feel free to kneel or stand as they see fit without pressure and just get on with the football.
Palace star Wilfred Zaha stated his intention to no longer kneel before games. He said "We’re trying to say that we’re equal but we’re isolating ourselves with these things that aren’t even working anyway. I feel like we should stand tall and now I don’t really tend to speak on racism and stuff like that because I’m not here just to tick boxes.”
Several clubs chose to not take the knee in the past week, led by Brentford, whose striker Ivan Toney believes players are being used as puppets. He said "the gesture is allowing people at the top to rest on the subject and nothing has changed as a result. We have had a long discussion about that; why we are not taking a knee. Everyone has had their say, and everyone agrees that we have been taking the knee for however long now and still nothing has changed. We are kind of being used as puppets. It is pretty silly and pretty pointless. Nothing is changing. The punishments need to be stronger."
Whichever side of the fence you sit, it looks increasingly like the gesture has now run its course. In my opinion, players should be permitted to express themselves however they wish. Now that high profile players have made their position clear no doubt others will feel free to kneel or stand as they see fit without pressure and just get on with the football.
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