Premier League clubs performed the pre-match knee gesture for the first time this season as part of October's No Room for Racism campaign. However, six players across five clubs chose to remain standing during the demonstrations.
Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi explained that he has chosen to clap rather than kneel for a while, stating that discrimination is a wider societal issue and suggesting it may be time to move the campaign along.
The Premier League maintains that the decision belongs entirely to the players and that the organization supports whatever stance they choose. The gesture was originally introduced in 2020 following the death of George Floyd.
Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out told BBC Sport that taking the knee still holds value in raising awareness, though it understands player frustrations regarding the slow pace of societal and structural change.
