Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has explained why Dominic Calvert-Lewin chose not to take the knee ahead of Sunday's 1-1 draw with Manchester United, insisting the striker showed 'respect' by remaining standing.
The vast majority of Premier League players took the knee this weekend as part of the top flight's 'No Room for Racism' campaign, but Leeds forward Calvert-Lewin was among those who opted against the gesture, choosing to remain standing.
Everton's Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Ipswich Town's Issa Diop and Manchester City's Marc Guehi chose not to take the knee during Saturday's fixtures, with Bournemouth duo Rayan and Tyler Adams making the same decision ahead of Sunday's matches.
Speaking after his side's draw at Elland Road, Farke defended the striker's decision while also praising the Premier League's campaign.
'Dom is more or less like, "No, I don't go down. I show my respect by standing up." Every individual is different and shows respect for this campaign in a different way,' he said.
'It's definitely a good campaign and a good topic that football and sports, in general, support situations like this because a dressing room is a perfect example of how we should all live together.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin shows his 'respect' by standing, according to Leeds boss Daniel Farke
The striker did not take the knee while his team-mates performed the gesture at Elland Road
'Different passports, different languages, different religions, but they are all together as human beings and friends who work together toward one target. This is how the world should be.'
Premier League players have been given the opportunity to take the knee across two weekends this month in an effort to challenge discrimination.
Parts of Elland Road loudly booed as players took the knee ahead of Leeds' clash with Manchester United, amid fears the gesture has lost its impact since its introduction during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is not the first time players have refused to take the knee. Last year Calvert-Lewin did so in Burnley's fixture with Leeds, while Crysencio Summerville has been known to take the same action.
Former Premier League star Wilfried Zaha previously explained why he objected to the gesture in 2021, saying: 'I feel like taking the knee is degrading, because growing up my parents just let me know that I should be proud to be black no matter what and I feel like we should just stand tall.'
When Marcos Alonso was at Chelsea, he opted to point to the Premier League's 'No Room For Racism' badge on his arm rather than join his fellow players.
Ahead of the 2021-22 season, Luton indicated that they would not be taking the knee and instead all stood in the centre circle.
Two Bournemouth players stood while their team-mates took the knee against Sunderland
Ainsley Maitland-Niles was one of six Premier League players who refused to take the knee this weekend, pictured standing ahead of Everton's 2-0 defeat against Chelsea on Saturday
At that stage, players were still taking the knee ahead of every game – but that policy was stopped in August 2022. Instead, a decision was made to limit the gesture to match rounds falling during the No Room For Racism initiative.
It was agreed ahead of the season among Premier League captains that they would continue to perform the gesture twice per season.
Pockets of match-goers have expressed frustration at the gesture in the past. In 2021 that led to Burnley captain Ben Mee hitting back: 'It gets to the point where if you're booing, it doesn't look good on those individuals that are booing. Disappointed, but there was a lot of positive there as well.
'Support us in what we're trying to achieve as a group of players and a football community.'
Players and staff have the opportunity to perform the pre-match gesture for the next two gameweeks in October, with the Premier League reiterating 'the commitment to tackling discrimination and highlight the importance of diversity in football'.
The move started in the UK in 2020 following the death of George Floyd in US police custody, which sparked the Black Lives Matter movement.
Last year, the Lionesses chose not to kneel before their Euro 2025 semi-final against Italy following racist abuse aimed at defender Jess Carter on social media.
Captain Lucy Bronze said the anti-racism message is not 'as strong as it used to be' following the abuse of her teammate.
Farke praised the Premier League's initiative, but urged that Calvert-Lewin still showed respect
Ex-Chelsea star Marcos Alonso points to his 'No Room For Racism' badge rather than taking the knee in 2021
'It was driven by the group – obviously certain individuals more than others,' Bronze explained. 'I think it was just the fact that we feel as a collective, is the message as strong as it used to be? Is the message really hitting hard? Because to us it feels like it's not if these things are still happening to our players in the biggest tournaments of their lives.
'It's about putting another statement out there to say, it's something that still is a problem, it's something that still needs to be put right. More needs to be done in football, more needs to be done in society. What that is right now as an individual, I don't exactly know.'
But the head of football's international anti-discrimination body, Fare, questioned the Lionesses' decision to stop taking the knee.
Piara Powar told BBC Sport: 'The players have taken a decision to stop taking the knee, which is their right.
'Personally don't see the link between the two. The taking of the knee is a powerful anti-racist act and this England team have shown leadership across Europe in taking it for so long.
'Powerful actions are needed right now, to deal with the issues that are being played out as we speak.'
Guehi also made headlines in 2024 when, as Crystal Palace captain, he wrote 'I love Jesus' on a modified captain's armband given to all Premier League skippers to promote LGBTQ rights.
He was formally reprimanded for that, but followed it up by wearing an armband with 'Jesus loves you' written on it in the next game.