Bournemouth will NOT take the knee earlier than kick-offs within the Premier League this season

Bournemouth‘s gamers will stand by their choice to not take the knee as they put together for his or her first recreation again within the Premier League.

The Cherries squad stopped making the pre-match gesture in February 2021, whereas within the Championship, and won’t change their stance no matter their return to the highest flight after a two-year absence.

Led by captain Steve Cook dinner on the time, Bournemouth introduced: ‘Combating all types of discrimination and creating an equal, inclusive society is one thing that we really feel very passionately about. 

‘However that’s outlined by rather more than a gesture, which we really feel has run its course and is now not having the impact it first did eight months in the past.’

Whereas Bournemouth respect different golf equipment’ wishes to probably go in numerous instructions, they really feel their squad’s choice from final yr nonetheless stands and don’t have any plans to carry out a U-turn. Cook dinner has since left for fellow promoted facet Nottingham Forest.

As Premier League golf equipment deliberate about how usually they may carry out the gesture, increasingly more golf equipment outdoors the highest flight have began to make their very own bulletins. One of many newest groups to verify they won’t take the knee this season is Swansea Metropolis, who’ve stated they wish to deal with different methods to boost equality.

Erling Haaland (left) and Trent Alexander-Arnold took the knee forward of the Group Defend

‘Taking the knee has undoubtedly helped to lift consciousness and encourage conversations about take away racism from the sport all of us love,’ Swansea stated in an announcement. ‘

Ought to any opposition facet take the knee earlier than a recreation this season, then we are going to line up and applaud them, as a result of we completely help the sentiment behind it.’

Fellow Championship facet Bristol Metropolis have additionally confirmed they won’t take the knee this season. ‘Now we have taken the knee at each recreation we’ve performed since June 2020 as an necessary stance of solidarity within the battle in opposition to all types of discrimination,’ they stated.

‘That battle should proceed on daily basis in how all of us behave and contribute to society and we are going to applaud opposition groups who take the knee and lift consciousness whereas guaranteeing that we’ve a zero-tolerance strategy to hate and abuse.’

Swansea’s gamers (Andre Ayew pictured in October 2020) confirmed they ‘collectively determined’ to cease taking the knee earlier than video games

Nigel Pearson’s Bristol Metropolis facet have additionally determined to not take the knee going ahead