Marc Guehi: Taking the knee before matches has lost its impact

Manchester City defender Marc Guehi believes taking a knee before kick-off has lost its impact, calling for more decisive action to tackle discrimination in sport. The defender opted not to take the knee ahead of Saturday's Premier League home match against Ipswich, which was part of the top flight's 'No Room For Racism' campaign.

This is not the first time Guehi has chosen not to take part in the pre-match gesture, which was introduced in June 2020 in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, Premier League clubs decided to restrict taking the knee to specific designated fixtures rather than before every single match.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Champions League clash against AEK Athens, the defender acknowledged that it is great to see the league's initiative continue, but urged for further progress.

"There is always scope for more action. We need to think about how we can take the campaign further. This isn't just a sporting issue, it's a deeper societal matter. However, football serves as a beacon of hope through which the message can spread. We will try to achieve more, hopefully alongside the PFA and the league chiefs."

Asked whether taking the knee had lost its initial power, the defender said:

"Maybe. To be honest, I haven't done it for a while now. But I would always applaud because of everything that gesture stands for."