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Premier League trio including Man City star refuse to take knee as initiative returns

Premier League matches have seen the reintroduction of taking the knee, but several players opted to stand while the anti-racism gesture was being observed before kick-off on Saturday

Published: Saturday, 17 October 2026 at 4:14 PM
Premier League trio including Man City star refuse to take knee as initiative returns
Key Things to Know
  • Three Premier League players chose to remain standing rather than take the knee during Saturday matches.
  • Manchester City's Marc Guehi and Ipswich's Issa Diop did not kneel before kickoff at the Etihad Stadium.
  • Ainsley Maitland-Niles also stood prior to Everton's match against Chelsea.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Three Premier League players chose not to take the knee on Saturday as the league's 'No Room For Racism' campaign returned. Manchester City defender Marc Guehi and Ipswich defender Issa Diop both remained standing before kickoff at the Etihad Stadium. Earlier that day, Ainsley Maitland-Niles also declined to perform the gesture ahead of Everton's fixture against Chelsea.

While none of the three players have publicly commented on their decision, the gesture has previously drawn debate among players who feel it has lost impact. Premier League captains previously agreed to limit the anti-racism gesture to specific campaign rounds twice per season.

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