Our players have stopped taking the knee before matches, effective immediately from our Scottish Premiership match on Saturday 20 March.
Motherwell Football Club stands united with this collective decision and their reasons. We fully endorse the following statement from the players. It is time for action on racism, not empty gestures.
The players of Motherwell FC said:
“When we started taking the knee at the start of the season, it had an impact. For the first few weeks, the message was loud and clear. Now it has been lost.
“Taking a knee has become something someone does now for the sake of it. It has completely lost its meaning.
“As a squad, we spoke and asked ourselves ‘why are we doing this anymore? Is it having any impact at all?’. The answer was a clear no.
“Taking a knee has become an empty gesture. Instead, we want those in power to take real and immediate action on racism.
“Apathy and complacency have set into the routine. We want our actions to cause a realisation and a reaction.
“Racism is apparent everywhere in the day-to-day life of society. People need to realise change is required.
“Players, clubs, authorities and society now need to unite, and fight for a level playing field for all.”