Marc Guehi declines to take the knee in Premier League anti-racism campaign

Manchester City and England defender Marc Guehi has refused to take the knee for the second consecutive week during the Premier League’s ‘No Room for Racism’ initiative. During a match against Aston Villa at Villa Park, Guehi remained standing and clapped instead of kneeling.

Guehi suggested that the gesture has lost its meaning, stating, ‘I haven’t been taking the knee for a while now, to be honest. I’d always clap, just because of what that actually signifies.’ While he expressed support for the ongoing anti-racism campaign, he noted that the issue is a wider societal matter rather than strictly a footballing one.

Guehi is among several players who have opted not to kneel, including Issa Diop, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Rayan and Tyler Adams. The differing approaches have divided players, with some viewing the act as a hollow gesture, while others, such as Leeds manager Daniel Farke regarding Calvert-Lewin, suggest that standing is a different way of showing respect to the cause.