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Everton star refuses to take the knee before clash against Chelsea as Premier League begin ‘No Room For Racism’ initiative

Everton defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles refused to take the knee ahead of their Premier League clash with Chelsea.

By Ezekiel Olamide · Sportskeeda

Published: Saturday, 17 October 2026 at 7:07 PM

Key Things to Know

Ainsley Maitland-Niles refused to take the knee ahead of Everton's Premier League match against Chelsea.
The gesture occurred during the Premier League's dedicated 'No Room For Racism' initiative fixtures.
Maitland-Niles' specific reason for not participating in the gesture remains unclear.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Everton defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles stood upright rather than taking the knee ahead of their Premier League match against Chelsea. The pre-match demonstration took place at the Hill Dickinson Stadium as part of the Premier League's dedicated 'No Room For Racism' campaign, while other players and the referee knelt.

The article notes that Maitland-Niles' specific reason for abstaining remains unclear. However, other Premier League players such as Ivan Toney and Wilfried Zaha have previously opted out of the gesture, expressing belief that the demonstration has lost its effectiveness.

Read the full article on Sportskeeda