The Premier League’s anti-racism gesture made its return this weekend, but it wasn’t met with the same level of unity as before.
At Turf Moor, where Burnley hosted Leeds United on Saturday afternoon, the moment took an awkward turn — a few sections of the crowd booed as players took the knee, while Leeds’ Dominic Calvert-Lewin chose to remain standing.
The Return of a Powerful Message
This round of fixtures marks the first time this season that Premier League clubs have taken the knee, as part of the league’s No Room For Racism campaign.
The initiative, running across matches between October 18 and 26, aims to reinforce football’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and the fight against discrimination.
The gesture, which began in 2020 following the global Black Lives Matter movement, was scaled back in 2022 after consultations with players.
Since then, it’s only been performed during specific campaign weekends — and this week was one of them.
A Divided Response Across Stadiums
While Burnley’s home crowd offered a mixed reaction, the response elsewhere across the country was notably more subdued.
At Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, there was a combination of light applause and a few scattered boos as players took the knee before kick-off against Wolves.
Meanwhile, Brighton’s home fans at the Amex responded with gentle applause as the Seagulls faced Newcastle.
At the Etihad, Manchester City’s clash with Everton passed quietly with no audible reaction, as did Crystal Palace’s meeting with Bournemouth at Selhurst Park.
A Moment of Confusion at Forest
Nottingham Forest’s early kickoff against Chelsea saw nearly every player take part in the gesture — except goalkeeper Mats Sels, who appeared to miss the moment completely.
Cameras caught him still arranging his towel on the goal net as his teammates kneeled, a simple misunderstanding that drew some light-hearted reactions online.
Drama Beyond the Gesture
The symbolic moment wasn’t the only talking point of the day. Forest’s 3–0 defeat to Chelsea proved costly for their manager, Ange Postecoglou, who was sensationally sacked just 19 minutes after the final whistle.
The result marked Chelsea’s third consecutive win, capping off a dominant performance from the Blues.
A Reminder of Football’s Ongoing Mission
Despite the varied crowd reactions, the league’s message remains clear — there’s no place for racism in football.
The Premier League and its clubs continue to use these campaign weeks to remind fans and players alike that equality and respect must always be at the heart of the game.