{"id":6319,"date":"2021-03-13T22:20:22","date_gmt":"2021-03-13T22:20:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/south-africa\/?p=6319"},"modified":"2021-03-13T18:25:35","modified_gmt":"2021-03-13T18:25:35","slug":"palaces-wilfried-zaha-becomes-first-premier-league-player-not-to-take-the-knee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/south-africa\/all-news\/palaces-wilfried-zaha-becomes-first-premier-league-player-not-to-take-the-knee","title":{"rendered":"Palace’s Wilfried Zaha becomes first Premier League player not to take the knee"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press<\/a> – South-Africa<\/a>. <\/strong><\/span>LONDON \u2013 Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha became the first Premier League player not to take a knee in solidarity with the anti-racism movement before Saturday’s match against West Bromwich Albion.<\/p>\n

Ivory Coast international Zaha stood tall while the rest of his Palace team-mates and their opponents kneeled just before kick-off at Selhurst Park.<\/p>\n

The 28-year-old revealed last month when speaking at the Financial Times’ Business of Football summit he would no longer perform a gesture which has been followed by Premier League players, officials and staff since June.<\/p>\n

“My decision to stand at kick-off has been public knowledge for a couple of weeks now,” Zaha said in a statement released on Saturday.<\/p>\n

“There is no right or wrong decision, 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.<\/p>\n

“I know there is a lot of work being done behind the scenes at the Premier League and other authorities to make change, and I fully respect that, and everyone involved. I also fully respect my team-mates and players at other clubs who continue to take the knee.<\/p>\n

“As a society, I feel we should be encouraging better education in schools, and social media companies should be taking stronger action against people who abuse others online – not just footballers.<\/p>\n

“I now just want to focus on football and enjoy being back playing on the pitch. I will continue to stand tall.”<\/p>\n

Zaha joins Championship clubs Millwall, Derby, Bournemouth and Brentford in no longer taking part in kneeling before matches.<\/p>\n

The gesture was brought in as a way to promote the anti-racism message after the death in police custody of George Floyd in the United States last May sparked a rise in Black Lives Matter protests.<\/p>\n

AFP<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – South-Africa. LONDON \u2013 Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha became the first Premier League player not to take a knee in solidarity with the anti-racism movement before Saturday’s match against West Bromwich Albion. 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