“West Ham Star’s SHOCKING Refusal to Kneel Before Brentford Clash – Jaw-Dropping Reason Will Leave You Speechless!”
The reason why one West Ham United player decided not to take the knee before their Premier League clash with Brentford on Monday night has now been revealed.
The league reaffirmed its commitment to promoting equality and diversity by dedicating all fixtures between October 18 and October 26 to the “No Room For Racism” campaign.
This marked the first occasion this season that clubs across England’s top flight participated in the symbolic gesture.
The Premier League had previously confirmed in August 2022 that teams would no longer take the knee before every fixture after discussions with players, who believed that frequent repetition was diminishing the gesture’s significance.
Since then, it has been reserved for special match rounds linked to anti-discrimination efforts.
However, two years on, opinions remain divided over whether the campaign retains its intended impact.
During Leeds United’s visit to Burnley, parts of the home crowd were heard booing the act, prompting Daniel Farke to clarify after the match why Dominic Calvert-Lewin had chosen not to participate.
Later, during West Ham’s meeting with Brentford, Crysencio Summerville also opted out.
Why Crysencio Summerville Did Not Take the Knee
According to the Daily Mail, West Ham made it clear that players have full autonomy to decide whether to take part.
The report added that Summerville had also declined to take the knee while at Leeds United, suggesting continuity in his stance since joining the Hammers.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke, speaking earlier about the issue, shared insight into players’ personal choices: “It’s up to the individual. We had this taking the knee for such a long time.
I remember Cree (Crysencio Summerville) never took the knee, and when I asked, he said, ‘I’d rather stand up against racism.’ Everyone has their own way of showing support.”
Burnley manager Scott Parker said he was unaware of the booing from fans before his team’s crucial clash with Leeds. Meanwhile, reactions varied across the country.
The Daily Mail reported that, on the whole, supporters responded positively, though many seemed indifferent.
At the Stadium of Light, applause mixed with a few boos preceded Sunderland’s fixture against Wolves.
Supporters at Brighton’s home game with Newcastle and at Fulham versus Arsenal responded with polite clapping.
The gesture passed largely unnoticed at Manchester City’s meeting with Everton at the Etihad and Crystal Palace’s clash with Bournemouth.
At Nottingham Forest’s lunchtime encounter with Chelsea, all players took the knee except for Forest goalkeeper Mats Sels, who appeared unaware of the gesture as he was adjusting his towel on the goal net.
