Marc Guehi explains standing during anti-racism gesture

Manchester City defender Marc Guehi says he chose to stand and clap during the Premier League's No Room For Racism initiative, believing the symbolic gesture of taking the knee has lost its impact and that more action is needed.

Manchester City defender Marc Guehi has clarified his decision to stand while most players took the knee during the Premier League's recent No Room For Racism campaign weekends. The centre-back said he remains fully supportive of the anti-racism message but feels the gesture itself has lost its meaning and that more concrete action is required.

Guehi explained he has not taken the knee for some time, preferring to clap instead to show his support. He said the taking of the knee has maybe lost its significance and that while the campaign's message is still great, more can always be done. The 26-year-old hopes the league and the Professional Footballers’ Association can work together to find ways to move the campaign forward, describing racism as a wider societal issue where football can act as a beacon of hope. He added that he believes the focus should shift from symbolic gestures to more tangible actions and education to create lasting change.

Wider player stance

Guehi was not alone in standing during the initiative, which was pre-agreed to take centre stage across two weekends in October. He was joined by several other Premier League players including Issa Diop, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Tyler Adams. The gesture was first introduced into the league six years ago, but some players have recently voiced their reservations. Former Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has previously said he wanted to stand tall to show his pride, while ex-Brentford striker Ivan Toney has criticised the act, saying it made players feel like puppets and that nothing was changing. Other players have echoed similar sentiments, suggesting the ritual has become routine and divorced from its original powerful intent.

Guehi's comments come as Manchester City maintain their perfect start to the domestic season, sitting top of the Premier League with 21 points from seven wins. Their next challenge is a trip to face Aston Villa, who are 12th, on Saturday 24 October. Fans can view the full fixtures schedule on the club site. City's form has been strong with four wins in their last five matches, a run that includes a 3-2 victory over Ipswich last time out where Erling Haaland scored twice. Haaland is the team's top scorer this season with eight goals. The team's defensive record has also been notable, contributing significantly to their position at the summit of the table.