England Women’s national football team has decided to halt taking the knee before matches, citing the gesture’s limited impact in combating racism. Manager Sarina Wiegman expressed the team’s stance that more substantial actions are needed to address racial abuse, following defender Jess Carter’s experience of online racism during the Euro 2025 tournament. The team will now stand at kick-off as a different approach to raise awareness and spark conversations about the inadequacy of current anti-racism measures in football.
Key highlights:
• England Women’s team to cease taking the knee due to perceived inefficacy against racism.
• Defender Jess Carter faced racist abuse online, prompting the team to seek alternative actions.
• The squad will now stand at kick-off, aiming to initiate more impactful anti-racism discussions.
The decision underscores the persistent challenge of combating racism in sports and the ongoing need for more effective strategies to address such issues.
Source: BBC Sport