WILFRIED ZAHA has become the first Premier League player not to take the knee before a game.
Last month, the Ivorian, 28, revealed how he felt the gesture to promote anti-racism and anti-discrimination was degrading to him as a black man.
Wilfried Zaha refused to take a knee before Crystal Palace’s game against West BromCredit: AFP
Zaha did not join his team-mates or West Brom’s stars in taking a knee before kick-offCredit: Jamie McPhilimey – The Sun
And the Crystal Palace star vowed he would not be taking part in the pre-match symbol which has been in place since last summer.
Since then, Zaha had been sidelined through injury so had been unable to make his own personal stand.
But he returned to the starting line-up for the Premier League clash with West Brom on Saturday.
And when ref Simon Hooper blew the whistle before kick-off, Zaha stayed standing while the rest of the players on the pitch took the knee.
In a statement, Zaha wrote: “My decision to stand at kick-off has been public knowledge for a couple of weeks now.
“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.
“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.
Zaha remained standing ahead of his first game back from injury against West BromCredit: AP:Associated Press
“I also fully respect my team-mates and players at other clubs who continue to take the knee.
“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.
“I now just want to focus on football and enjoy being back playing on the pitch.
“I will continue to stand tall.”
Last month, Zaha had vowed to remain on his feet before games.
He roared: “The whole kneeling down – why must I kneel down for you to show that we matter?
“Why must I even wear black lives matter on the back of my top to show you that we matter?
“This is all degrading stuff.”
Footballers, managers and officials started the knee in the aftermath of the shocking murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in May 2020.
What is ‘taking a knee’ and how did it start?
Zaha stood alone in the centre of the pitch while others around him took the kneeCredit: Jamie McPhilimey – The Sun
And earlier this year, Zaha spoke out passionately on the abuse he has suffered as a footballer and how tiring it is when he, and others, are called on to speak out when there is no real change to combat the problem.
In an interview with the On the Judy podcast, the brilliant winger gave a glimpse at how painful and frustrating it is to see little real progress being made.
He added: “When people constantly want to get me to do Black Lives Matter talks and racial talks and I’m like, I’m not doing it just so you can put ‘Zaha spoke for us’. Like a tick box basically.
“I’m not doing any more, because unless things change, I’m not coming to chat to you just for the sake of it, like all the interviews I’ve done.
“All these platforms – you see what’s happening, you see people making fake accounts to abuse black people constantly, but you don’t change it.
“So don’t tell me to come and chat about stuff that’s not going to change. Change it.
“All that stuff that you lot are doing, all these charades mean nothing.”
Patrick Van Aanholt shows off his best moves at Crystal Palace training
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
