Burnley and Leeds stars are booed for taking the knee – as one player refuses to perform the gesture

Dominic Calvert-Lewin refused to take a knee on a day when sections of the Turf Moor fans were booed while the rest of the Burnley and Leeds players did.

To reiterate their commitment to combating discrimination and highlight the importance of diversity in football, all matches between 28 and 26 October were dedicated by the Premier League and its clubs to the No Room for Racism campaign.

On Saturday, clubs took a knee for the first time this season.

In August 2022, the Premier League stopped taking the knee before each match following consultations with players, and it was decided that the anti-racism gesture would be restricted to the No Room for Racism round of matches.

Leeds confirmed to Daily Mail Sport that they allow their players to decide what they want to do and stressed that Crysencio Summerville also did not take the knee while playing for Leeds.

‘It’s up to the individual player. “We’ve been on our knees with this situation for so long,” Leeds boss Daniel Farke said.

Players who took a knee at Turf Moor on Saturday were both applauded and booed by fans

Burnley and Leeds made the move before kick-off, prompting mixed reactions

The gesture was made in support of the Premier League’s No Room for Racism campaign

‘I remember I never took a knee with Cree (Crysencio) Summerville and one day I asked and he said, ‘I’d rather stand against racism,’ so everyone has their own opinions. You’ll have to ask him (Dominic). ‘I wouldn’t comment too much,’ Farke added.

Meanwhile, Burnley boss Scott Parker insisted he was unaware of the crowd’s booing.

Applause and a few boos were heard at the Stadium of Light ahead of Sunderland’s clash with Wolves.

The gesture was met with mild applause from the crowd at Brighton, home to Newcastle, and a lackluster response to Manchester City’s clash with Everton at the Etihad and Crystal Palace’s home game against Bournemouth.

There was also no reaction from the crowd at Nottingham Forest’s lunchtime clash with Chelsea – where all the players except Forest goalkeeper Mats Sels took a knee; He didn’t seem to notice the gesture taking place as he was busy trying to hang his towel on the goal net.

England, who took a knee before all their matches at the women’s Euros in the summer to protest systemic racism and police violence against black people, refused to do so in their semi-final against Italy in solidarity with Jess Carter, who was subjected to racist abuse online. The lionesses decided that the kneeling message was not being heard and more needed to be done.