Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha first Premier League player not to take knee

Forward says 'it doesn't matter whether we kneel or stand, some of us still continue to receive abuse'

Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha stands while players take a knee prior to the Premier League match against West Brom at Selhurst Park on Saturday, March 13, 2021. PA

Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha is the first Premier League player to not take a knee. AP

Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha, right, and West Bromwich Albion's Dara O'Shea challenge for the ball at Selhurst Park. AP

Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace iagainst Dara O'Shea of West Brom. EPA

West Bromwich Albion's English Robert Snodgrass and Crystal Palace's striker Wilfried Zaha. AFP

West Bromwich Albion's Kyle Bartley and Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha battle for the ball. PA

Wilfried Zaha, right, of Crystal Palace argues with Okay Yokuslu of West Brom. AP

Wilfried Zaha against West Brom. EPA

Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha has become the first Premier League player not to take a knee when he remained standing with his hands behind his back before kickoff in Saturday's 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

The Ivory Coast international said last month he would stop taking a knee before matches because he believes the meaning of the gesture has been lost.

Players have been taking a knee since July, initially in support of the Black Lives Matter movement before the Premier League and English Football League linked the gesture to their own anti-racism campaigns.

"There is no right or wrong decision, but... I feel kneeling has just become a part of the pre-match routine and at the moment it doesn't matter whether we kneel or stand, some of us still continue to receive abuse," Zaha said in a statement.

Premier League players, including Zaha, have been racially abused online, prompting English soccer bodies to put pressure on social media companies to tackle the problem.

"I know there is a lot of work being done behind the scenes at the Premier League and other authorities to make change, and I fully respect that and... my team-mates and players at other clubs who continue to take the knee," Zaha added.

"As a society, I feel we should be encouraging better education in schools, and social media companies should be taking stronger action against people who abuse others online – not just footballers."

Crystal Palace captain Luka Milivojevic has given his support to Zaha.

Milivojevic, who scored the only goal of the game against West Brom, said: "We spoke Friday a little about it and I support him 100 per cent.

"I want to say that we are taking the knee to show an example to people that we are against racism and that example can be maybe when kids watch football with their families and you know kids are always asking questions."