National Post ePaper

NO MORE KNEELING FOR ALONSO

Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso, pictured, has stopped taking the knee before matches this season because the anti-racism gesture is “losing a bit of strength,” the 30-year-old said. Players and staff have been taking a knee prior to kickoff since the league returned to action in June last year to show their support in the fight against racism. Alonso said he has decided to stand while other players kneel and will instead point to the “No Room For Racism” badge on the sleeve of his kit to highlight the issue. “I prefer to do it this way and, of course, to say very clearly that I am against racism and I respect everybody,” Alonso said. Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said he trusted Alonso to be “1,000 per cent absolutely committed against racism” and agreed the gesture of taking the knee had become routine and lacked the effect it first had.

Sports

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2021-09-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://nationalpost.pressreader.com/article/282209423997550

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