Farke Defends Calvert-Lewin After Leeds Striker Stands During Racism Gesture
Daniel Farke backed Dominic Calvert-Lewin after the Leeds United striker remained standing during the pre-match anti-racism gesture before Sunday’s draw with Manchester United at Elland Road.
Farke supports Calvert-Lewin’s individual choice
Premier League players had been invited to take the knee across the weekend’s fixtures as part of the division’s No Room for Racism campaign. Calvert-Lewin did not join the gesture before Leeds faced Manchester United, instead choosing to stand.
Farke said the forward’s decision did not reflect a lack of support for the campaign, explaining that Calvert-Lewin felt he could show respect in a different manner.
- Calvert-Lewin stood rather than taking the knee before the match at Elland Road.
- Farke said the striker’s view was that he could demonstrate respect by remaining on his feet.
- The Leeds head coach stressed that people can express backing for the anti-racism message in different ways.
“Dom’s position is more or less that he does not go down and shows his respect by standing up,” Farke said. “Every individual is different and shows respect for this campaign in a different way.”
Leeds manager praises anti-racism campaign
While defending his player’s choice, Farke was clear in his support for the Premier League initiative and the wider role football can play in opposing racism.
He pointed to the makeup of a football dressing room as an example of the kind of shared society he believes the sport should represent: players and staff from different countries, languages and faiths working together towards a common objective.
“It is absolutely a good campaign and an important subject that football and sport generally support matters like this,” Farke said. “A dressing room is a perfect example of how everyone should live together.
“There are different passports, languages and religions, but they are together as human beings and friends, working for one goal. That is how the world should be.”
Campaign’s place in the Premier League calendar
The latest No Room for Racism activity coincides with Black History Month. Taking the knee became a regular pre-match gesture in English football in 2020, following the killing of George Floyd in the United States by former police officer Derek Chauvin.
Calvert-Lewin was not the only Premier League player to remain standing during the weekend programme.
- Ainsley Maitland-Niles chose not to take the knee before his Saturday fixture.
- Issa Diop also stood before kick-off.
- Marc Guéhi was another player who did not participate in the gesture.
Wilfried Zaha, then a Crystal Palace player, became the first Premier League footballer to stop taking the knee before matches in 2021.
