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    Premier League bosses will hold talks with senior players about scrapping ‘taking the knee’ next season

    PREM chiefs will consult with senior players to decide whether to continue to “take the knee” before games next season.Top-flight players have united in the anti-racism gesture since the return of football at the end of the first pandemic lockdown in 2020.
    Premier League chiefs will hold talks with players about “taking the knee”Credit: Rex
    But after two-and-a-half seasons of the gesture being the final part of the pre-match programme, some have argued that it is time for it to be dropped.
    Premier League bosses will not take a formal position until the eve of next season.
    That will come after a full consultation with club captains, managers and the PFA to gauge the feeling of the Prem stars.
    And while some players have stayed on their feet as the debate has ensued, if the players believe it should continue into the 2022-2023 campaign, it will.
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    The decision to adopt the pre-match statement came in the wake of the murder of George Floyd at the hands of policemen in the USA.
    The first deployment was a direct response to the birth of the Black Lives Matter movement in the US and the slogan replaced the names of the players on all shirts for the first week of restart.
    Since then, however, a number of players have made the case that taking the knee is making the point that discrimination – on the grounds of race, gender or sexual identity – must not be part of football.
    Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, Brentford’s Ivan Toney and Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso have been conspicuous by their decision not to join in.
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    Those decisions brought the matter into focus and saw Aston Villa and England captain Tyrone Mings, a powerful advocate for social change, agreeing: “The knee is something that continually needs to be reviewed.
    “Is it still powerful? Is it still making people aware?”
    Some fans at England matches before last summer’s Euros booed when Gareth Southgate’s men opted to show their support, with racist chants following from home supporters during the World Cup qualifier in Hungary in September.
    Players and Prem bosses will decide whether to continue “taking the knee” next seasonCredit: Getty
    England have maintained their stance, backed by the likes of Liverpool’s Senegal defender Joel Matip, who said earlier this season: “It is a sign of awareness that it’s still a big problem with racism.”
    Club skippers will take soundings from their team-mates to adopt a united position on the issue, with an awareness that any decision must be broadly backed. More

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    Lewis Hamilton reveals he’s been in tears during fight against racism in F1 as he explains why he couldn’t stay quiet

    LEWIS HAMILTON has revealed he has broken down in tears during his fight against racism in Formula 1.The seven-time world champion has been at the centre of the #WeRaceAsOne message the sport have promoted since the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.
    Hamilton has led Formula One’s fight against racismCredit: AFP
    He has also been integral in promoting the taking of the kneeCredit: Reuters
    But it has been an incredibly challenging role for Hamilton, who admits one of the most difficult moments came when F1 – who control the broadcasting of their events – cut away from some of the drivers taking the knee at the Styrian Grand Prix to show Red Bull skydivers.
    Speaking to The Guardian, he said: “This wrath of emotions came up and I couldn’t contain myself. I was in tears.
    “And this stuff came up that I’d suppressed over all these years. And it was so powerful and sad and also releasing. 
    “And I thought, ‘I can’t stay quiet. I need to speak out because there are people experiencing what I’m experiencing, or 10 times worse. Or 100 times worse. And they need me right now.’
    “And so when I did speak out, that was me letting the Black community know: ‘I hear you and I stand with you.'”
    He then went on to add: “I don’t see it as a burden. It was definitely liberating to be able to be open and speak about things.
    “For people to know that there’s much more to me than perhaps they realised from watching me on TV. 
    “I feel like I was built for this. There’s a reason it was suppressed over all that time.
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    “And if it happened any sooner I wouldn’t be ready, wouldn’t be strong enough to handle it. I wouldn’t be able to do my job as well and do both things at the same time. 
    “But now I’m equipped with the tools to do so. I look at my niece and nephew. I look at my little cousins and I think ‘How can I make things better for you guys and your friends?'”
    Hamilton’s inspirational determination to stand up for what he believes in also led to Mercedes changing the colour of their cars for the 2020 season to black.
    They have carried this design on into the 2021 season.
    Meanwhile, Hamilton is currently bidding to eclipse Michael Schumacher by winning a record eighth Formula 1 world title.
    However, the Brit has his work cut out as he trails rival Max Verstappen by 32 points after nine of 23 races.
    Next up for the drivers is Hamilton’s home circuit of Silverstone on July 18.
    Lewis Hamilton says winning a record-breaking eighth world championship will not determine whether he quits Formula One at the end of the year More

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    Germany team in talks over taking knee against England at Wembley for Euro 2020 last-16 clash

    GERMANY could join England in taking the knee when they meet in their highly-anticipated last-16 Euro 2020 clash.The bitter rivals face each other tomorrow at Wembley and the Germans are open to taking part in the stand against racism before kick-off alongside the Three Lions.
    Neuer has revealed the Germans may take the knee against England in their Euro 2020 last-16 clash tomorrowCredit: EPA
    The German veteran goalie also praised England for taking part in the controversial act
    Despite never doing so previously, the German squad have discussed it several times, their keeper Manuel Neuer revealed.
    The Bayern Munich stoppere also praised his English rivals for taking part in the controversial act.
    While speaking to Kicker, he said: “Basically, we think that’s very good from the English national team and from the teams that also do it in the Premier League.
    “We haven’t seen it in this form from the Bundesliga or our international matches. We talk about it in the team.”
    Although the 35-year-old veteran is in favour of the knee stance, it has divided opinion among English fans.
    A minority of the country’s supporters have booed when players have takenthe knee, which has been interpreted as an act of racism by some.
    The fans who have taken part in the jeers have denied this and claim they oppose the gesture as it’s political, which has no place in the game.
    But Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate said: “I think we have got a situation where some people seem to think it is a political stand that they don’t agree with.

    “That is not the reason the players are doing it. We are supporting each other.”
    Neuer and the Germans haven’t had the same issues with their fans when taking part in protests.

    When the 100 caps goalie wore a rainbow armband in support of Pride month and faced discipline from UEFA, the German fans rallied behind him.
    While grateful for their support he claims he expected nothing less from them.
    Neuer added: “Actually, I didn’t expect anything else from our people and we as a team can only say that we are very grateful for that.”
    Kalvin Phillips says England can sink rivals Germany on Tuesday by taking ‘more risks’ as Three Lions train for showdown More

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    Euro 2020: France abandon plans to take the ‘divisive’ knee before clash with Germany

    FRANCE abandoned plans to take the knee before their Euro 2020 clash with Germany — because of fears it was divisive.The decision by the World Champions has significance in England, where a debate over the controversial anti-racism gesture continues to rage.
    France abandoned plans to take the knee before their Euro 2020 clash with Germany — because of fears it was divisiveCredit: Alamy
    France had planned to go down on one knee before Tuesday’s game against Germany in Munich, which they won 1-0.
    But players were troubled by arguments in the media before the game, so decided to abandon the gesture.
    “It was a collective decision,” said Hugo Lloris, the France captain who also plays for Tottenham Hotspur.
    Discussing taking the knee, Lloris said that it was supported by all Premiership clubs, but this was not the case in the UEFA-organised Euro 2020.
    “We assume that if we have to do it, all the nations must do it with the support of UEFA,’ said Lloris.
    “This is the case in Premier League, where the movement is united. In this competition, it is less the case.
    France had planned to kneel before Tuesday’s game against Germany, but players were troubled by arguments in the media before the game, so decided to abandon the gestureCredit: Getty

    “This does not mean that we do not support the cause, we especially do not want racism in our sport and in society.”
    Another France squad member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: ‘The truth is that players were concerned about the fierce reaction to the gesture, and felt that it was dividing more than uniting.’
    Far-right politicians in France have been critical of the knee taking, saying it was deliberately provocative.
    France star Benjamin Pavard reveals he was knocked out for 15 seconds versus Germany More

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    Lewis Hamilton rules out move into politics after F1 career as Mercedes star says ‘I’m just trying to make contribution’

    LEWIS HAMILTON has distanced himself from a future career in politics despite his continued success as a campaigner for equality.At 36, the beknighted Formula One world champion’s racing career is in its final stretch and speculation continues over what he will dedicate his time to when he lets go of the steering wheel.
    Lewis Hamilton has not been afraid to discuss political issues in recent yearsCredit: Getty
    The Brit has been invigorated by the increased calls for racial justice since the police killing of George Floyd in the United States.
    F1 has been compelled to enhance its own anti-racism message as a result with Hamilton regularly donning T-shirts in support of Black Lives Matter and the Justice for Breonna Taylor movement in the paddock.
    But he will not be pulling on a rosette and seeking election after he calls it a day in F1.
    Hamilton laughed when asked about the move by Corriere della Sera, and said: “No! I’m not good at politics.
    “I’m just trying to make my contribution, to find a way to get messages across.
    “To make sure my five-year-old nephew, and those of his generation, don’t live what we have. So that they find a more open world.”

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    Hamilton is one of a growing number of sports stars getting involved in how society operates, alongside the likes of Marcus Rashford.
    Yet many of the great and the good stay away from potentially volatile political topics, something which the Mercedes star understands but feels shows a disconnect to the real world.
    Hamilton added: “Many don’t talk because they don’t know enough, and I respect them.
    “But I also don’t see why they can’t learn.
    We live in times when everyone comments on everything, sometimes without even trying to understand. Lewis Hamilton

    “We live in times when everyone comments on everything, sometimes without even trying to understand.
    “I was reading reactions to the war between Israel and Palestine, the majority are people who have never set foot in those places or who have not read anything.
    “There are those who say who cares and those who are worried, I feel responsibility.”
    Lewis Hamilton says winning a record-breaking eighth world championship will not determine whether he quits Formula One at the end of the year More

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    England legend Rio Ferdinand blasts ‘ignorant’ fans who booed knee and says they ‘haven’t got a clue’

    RIO FERDINAND has slammed fans who boo England players taking the knee as ‘ignorant’.A number of supporters at the Three Lions’ Euro 2020 warm-up friendlies jeered the pre-game gesture.
    England players will take the knee at Euro 2020 despite their own fans’ booingCredit: PA
    Footballers have largely backed taking the knee to emphasise their stand against racism, with many stars abused in escalating scenes online.
    The hate has not been limited to social media however, with ex-defender Ferdinand targeted while working as a pundit during Manchester United’s recent game at Wolves.
    And while some have criticised taking a knee for having links to political aspects of the Black Lives Matter movement, the 42-year-old has strongly denied any association between the two.
    Ferdinand told his YouTube channel: “These fans, these ignorant people going to these games, they haven’t got a clue.
    “They don’t know what the players are kneeling for. It’s not a political stance.
    “All these people saying, ‘BLM is a political movement’ – [the knee] is nothing to do with [BLM]. So take that out of your mind.
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    There is no valid reason for booing. They’re meant to be here helping the team, pushing them along.Rio Ferdinand
    “The players, the manager are telling you, ‘This is not a political campaign, the reason why we kneel is nothing to do with politics’.
    “This stance is about racism, about people being treated the right way and respectfully, and not based on the colour of their skin.
    “There is no valid reason for booing. They’re meant to be here helping the team, pushing them along.
    “The players’ narrative around this is nothing to do with politics so please just support this team, support these players.
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    “They don’t want injustice, they don’t want people to be judged off the colour of their skin. And they’re kneeling because of that. So why are you booing?”
    A number of Conservative Party MPs and right-wing pundits have fuelled claims that taking a knee is a political gesture.
    England manager Gareth Southgate has criticised those booing his players and explained: “We feel, more than ever, we are determined to take the knee throughout the tournament.
    “We accept there might be an adverse reaction but we’re going to ignore it and move forward.

    “We are all trying to move towards equality — and support our team-mates because of some of the experiences they’ve been through — but people decided to boo.
    “The players are sick of talking about all the consequences of should they, shouldn’t they.
    “They’ve had enough really. And as far as I’m concerned, they are not going to take any more questions on this through the tournament. If it happens, it happens.
    “Their voices have been made loud and clear. They are making their stand — but they want the focus to be on football.”
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
    Ex-MEP Martin Daubney praises England stars for NOT taking knee live on radio when it was two Romanians who refused More

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    England boss Gareth Southgate tells boo-boys they will not stop Three Lions stars taking a knee at Euro 2020

    GARETH SOUTHGATE told the boo-boys they will not stop his stars taking a knee.The Three Lions were jeered for kneeling against Austria and there are fears that could be repeated against Romania today — and then throughout the Euros.
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    England players took a knee before the clash with Austria – and will continue to do soCredit: Ryan Browne-The Guardian
    But after calling a team meeting, the England boss revealed his players will now continue to raise awareness of racial inequality this summer.
    Southgate said: “We feel, more than ever, we are determined to take the knee throughout the tournament.
    “We accept there might be an adverse reaction but we’re going to ignore it and move forward. We are all trying to move towards equality — and support our team-mates because of some of the experiences they’ve been through — but people decided to boo.
    “The players are sick of talking about all the consequences of should they, shouldn’t they.
    “They’ve had enough really. And as far as I’m concerned, they are not going to take any more questions on this through the tournament. If it happens, it happens.
    “Their voices have been made loud and clear. They are making their stand — but they want the focus to be on football.”
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    Some fans booed taking the knee towards the end of the domestic season.
    Southgate added: “It’s pointless us wasting our energy if people aren’t prepared to take part in change, look for progress.
    “We had a productive meeting with a group of players and we took that to the wider group.
    “But there are other things we need to spend our time on.
    “The fact that we are going to keep this is impactful. But how many times have we sat here over the last two years discussing these things?
    “I must never be tired of doing that — because I don’t have the right to be tired of it.
    “I haven’t lived the life my players have, or experienced the things they have.

    “It saddens me they are so hardened to it that they’re almost dismissive.“That’s something in our country we should all reflect on.
    “We’re never going to change everybody — but we know that from one generation to the next things improve.
    “That’s got to be our aim — to make it better for our children and our grandchildren.”
    ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

    England vs Romania – Watch LIVE for FREE, channel info and kick-off time More

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    Wembley fans appear to boo Chelsea and Leicester players taking knee before FA Cup final

    FANS appeared to boo Chelsea and Leicester City players this evening as they took the knee before the FA Cup final.Booing sounds were audible from both sides of Wembley as the Foxes won the competition for the first time in their history.
    Leicester City players take the knee before kick-offCredit: Getty
    Just before play began at 5:15pm this evening, both sets of players took the knee in a show of solidarity against racism.
    The protest, which has become customary at football matches since the resumption of the Premier League in June 2020, appeared to be booed by a minority of Chelsea and Leicester fans.
    The boos were quickly drowned out by loud cheers as the match began.
    The UK’s biggest post-lockdown crowd of 21,000 were in attendance as Leicester won 1-0 thanks to Youri Tielemans’ 63rd-minute winner.
    It’s not the first time the taking of the knee has been booed by football supporters, with the same happening at Millwall’s game against Derby County in December 2020.
    Jeers were also heard at a match between Exeter and Cambridge United ten days later.
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    Saturday’s scenes come just two days before the further easing of lockdown restrictions.
    Up to 10,000 spectators will be allowed to attend outdoor events from Monday as hundreds of clubs welcome fans back for this season’s final fixtures.
    Many have taken to Twitter report what they heard at Wembley and criticise those booing.
    One fan wrote: “Imagine going to an occasion like the FA Cup final – a magical day – and booking players taking the knee. Good grief!”
    While another tweeted: “This is why people don’t deserve football.”
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