Premiership players will take the knee for new season

PLAYERS from across Scotland will take a knee before this weekend’s opening Premiership fixtures after being given the backing of the SPFL. PFA Scotland and action group Show Racism the Red Card submitted a proposal to the league to reflect a desire among players to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Specially-commissioned T-shirts will also be worn before the matches, while players from all the top-flight clubs have compiled an anti-racism video message which will be broadcast ahead of kick-off. ‘Having spoken with their team-mates, our management committee felt very strongly that they should be given the opportunity to take the knee and show their support for the anti-racism message as their colleagues in the English Premier League and beyond had,’ said PFA Scotland chief executive Fraser Wishart. ‘We spoke with our representatives at all Premiership clubs and they were in agreement that they wanted to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement. ‘Football and footballers have a powerful voice and our members wanted to use that for the greater good to help spread the vital anti-racism message. ‘We are proud sponsors and supporters of Show Racism the Red Card and the fantastic work they do to educate society about how we must stand up to racism in all its forms. A number of our members, including our chairman Liam Craig, work with the charity and are very passionate about the work they do. ‘We thank the SPFL for accepting our joint proposal and allowing the players to show their support as they kick off the new season.’ SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster insisted the league fully supported the request and was determined to help combat racism. While stressing approval for players who take a knee, Doncaster added that the manner of gesture must remain a matter of individual choice. ‘Racism is abhorrent to any right-thinking person in our society today,’ he said. ‘The SPFL wholeheartedly supports the right of players, officials and others who wish to underline their opposition to such hateful beliefs and behaviours to “take a knee” as we relaunch the game in Scotland. ‘However, the manner in which people choose to express their opposition must remain a matter of individual free will and personal choice. ‘It’s for that reason that it would be wholly inappropriate for the SPFL, or indeed any organisation, to compel anyone to make any specific gesture. ‘As in other sports, individuals must be free to express their own views in other ways, and the SPFL respects their right to do so.’