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Six Premier League Players Opt Out of Taking the Knee in Recent Matches

During this weekend's fixtures, six Premier League players decided against taking the knee as part of the 'No Room For Racism' campaign. Among them was a notable Leeds United player in their match against Manchester United.

Background on the Gesture

The practice of taking the knee was introduced by the Premier League in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It served as a protest against racial injustice following the death of George Floyd in the US. Although not a weekly occurrence in 2026, the league scheduled two weekends in October dedicated to this gesture in recognition of Black History Month.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin Stands at Leeds vs Manchester United

Dominic Calvert-Lewin earned a point for Leeds after Bryan Mbeumo scored first in the 1-1 draw at Elland Road. The English striker stood while his teammates and opponents took the knee before kickoff. This marks the second year in a row that Calvert-Lewin has chosen to remain standing.

"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," said Leeds manager Daniel Farke during his post-match press conference.

Farke also addressed reports of boos from fans inside Elland Road during the kneeling. He praised the campaign's message, adding:

"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 Remained Standing

Calvert-Lewin was joined by five other players who chose not to kneel this weekend. Everton defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles was the first to refuse before his team’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Marc Guehi and Issa Diop also stayed standing before the match between Manchester City and Ipswich Town. On Sunday, Bournemouth’s Rayan and Tyler Adams followed the same approach.

It's key to understand these players are not seen as disrespecting the gesture and will face no penalties for their choice. Like Calvert-Lewin, they seem to express their respect in a way that feels right to 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 Bournemouth
  • Oct 25, 2:00pm: Liverpool vs Brighton & Hove Albion
  • 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 & Hove Albion
  • 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: Bournemouth 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

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