Scottish Premiership players will continue to take a knee until October to show their support for the fight against racism.
As a result, the taking of a knee will continue until October to give the Championship, League 1 & 2 players the opportunity to add their voice to the campaign, which will include the annual Show Racism the Red Card Fortnight of Action. After that point it will be reviewed.
The aim is that through this gesture, our members in the SPFL will be playing their part in keeping the issues of social injustice and racial inequality in the forefront of society’s minds.
PFA Scotland and Show Racism the Red Card will also continue to show the powerful video, via social media channels, which was put together by the players and shown last weekend.
Fraser Wishart, Chief Executive of PFA Scotland said: “Following last weekend’s Show Racism the Red Card activity, we were approached by our members who felt strongly that the action of taking a knee shouldn’t be a one-off gesture.
“Our Management Committee felt the same way and proposed the players be allowed to continue the action until October when the annual Fortnight of Action takes place.
“Whilst we have no political agenda or alignment with any political movement or cause, the symbolic nature of taking a knee has resonance around the world. Taking the knee, of course, started to gain profile when the NFL player Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the US national anthem in protest against police brutality and racism.
“After recent events, the origins of the original Kaepernick protest have been used by sports stars across the globe, and our members will take a knee from Saturday onwards in that vein; supporting anti-racist messaging and Show Racism the Red Card as an organisation.
“It is vital that we keep the momentum going by spreading the anti-racism message through our actions, on-going education through our partners Show Racism the Red Card and raising awareness of a problem which needs to be challenged at every turn.
“It is about making people question, and hopefully change, their own behaviours. If a young child asks its parent why the players are taking a knee and the reason is explained then they are being educated about social injustice and racial inequality. That can only be a good thing as we look to spread the anti-racism message across the world.”
