Ainsley Maitland-Niles remained standing during the Premier League’s ‘No Room For Racism’ initiative
Everton defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles refused to take the knee before their Premier League match against Chelsea on Saturday.
The Premier League’s ‘No Room For Racism’ initiative began this weekend with players kneeling on the pitch moments before kick-off.
However, former Arsenal defender Maitland-Niles remained standing and was the only player on the pitch who opted against the gesture.
Maitland-Niles had not given any public indication before the game that he would not take part in the Premier League’s anti-racism initiative.
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The Premier League announced this week that players in the top flight will take the knee before kick-off in every fixture until October 25 as part of its anti-racism campaign.
‘Players will be taking the knee before kick-off during the next two match rounds to show unity against all forms of discrimination,’ the Premier League said in a statement.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 17: Jordan Henderson of Chelsea takes the knee before the Premier League 2026/27 match between Everton and Chelsea FC at Hill Dickinson Stadium on October 17, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 17: Jordan Henderson of Chelsea takes the knee before the Premier League 2026/27 match between Everton and Chelsea FC at Hill Dickinson Stadium on October 17, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
‘This is in line with the decision made by captains at the start of the season.’
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: ‘During the latest No Room For Racism match rounds, we are using the reach of our players to send an important message: we are united in the fight against racism. We are also highlighting the incredible impact diversity has within our game and communities, something the League and clubs are committed to developing throughout the season.
‘Discrimination of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated, but sadly we still see cases of players and others within football facing abhorrent abuse. Not only will we continue to support those who are subjected to this, we will work with clubs and authorities to try and bring offenders to justice and do everything we can to eradicate racism.’
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Several Premier League players have previously spoken out against the gesture before games.
Former Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha described the kneeling gesture as ‘degrading’ and is used to ‘tick boxes’.
‘The whole kneeling down – why must I kneel down for you to show that we matter,’ Zaha said in 2021.
‘Why must I even wear Black Lives Matter on the back of my top to show you that we matter? This is all degrading stuff.
‘When people constantly want to get me to do Black Lives Matter talks and racial talks and I’m like, I’m not doing it just so you can put ‘Zaha spoke for us.’ Like a tick box, basically.
‘I’m not doing any more because unless things change, I’m not coming to chat to you just for the sake of it, like all the interviews I’ve done.
‘All these platforms – you see what’s happening, you see people making fake accounts to abuse Black people constantly, but you don’t change it.
‘So don’t tell me to come and chat about stuff that’s not going to change. Change it.
[LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 13: Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between Arsenal FC and LOSC Lille at Arsenal Stadium on October 13, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 13: Mikel Arteta, manager of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between Arsenal FC and LOSC Lille at Arsenal Stadium on October 13, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)](https://metro.co.uk/2026/10/16/mikel-arteta-told-sign-man-city-star-january-replace-two-arsenal-players-29716754/)
‘All that stuff that you lot are doing, all these charades mean nothing.’
Meanwhile, former Brentford striker Ivan Toney said: ‘We have had a long discussion about that; why we are not taking a knee.
‘Everyone has had their say, and everyone agrees [that] we have been taking the knee for however long now and still nothing has changed.
‘We are kind of being used as puppets, in my eyes; take the knee and the people at the top can rest for a while now, which is pretty silly and pretty pointless. Nothing is changing.’
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EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Dennis Goodwin/ProSports/Shutterstock (17206004ej) Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, London Chelsea v Bournemouth, Premier League - 10 Oct 2026
EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Dennis Goodwin/ProSports/Shutterstock (17206004ej) Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge, London Chelsea v Bournemouth, Premier League - 10 Oct 2026