Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso says he will no longer take the knee as he believes the anti-racism gesture is already “losing a bit of strength”.
Premier League players, staff and officials have all been taking the knee since Summer 2020 to show their solidarity for racial equality.
Over a year on from the gesture being undertaken before each football match, the Spanish defender says he will point to the ‘no to racism’ badge on his shirt instead.
“I am fully against racism and I’m against every type of discrimination,” Alonso told reporters after Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Tottenham on Sunday.
“I just prefer to put my finger to the badge where it says no to racism, like they do in some other sports and football in other countries. “I prefer to do it this way and, of course, to say very clearly that I am against racism and I respect everybody.”
When asked whether his decision is politically motivated, the player replied: “I don’t know, I just prefer to do it this way. It’s my way to do it, I think it’s another way.
“And maybe I think it’s losing a bit of strength the other way, so I just prefer to do it this way and to show I am fully supportive of fighting against racism.”
Alonso’s team-mates Reece James, Rudiger, N’Golo Kante and Lukaku have all suffered racist abuse in recent years, but he says he has not spoken to any of them about changing his stance.
“No, we haven’t talked about it,” he added.
“We are in the changing room and we are like a family. I have a very good relationship with everyone, I love everyone and up to now we haven’t talked about it.
“I don’t think there is a need to, but, of course, if I have to speak to anyone, I will say the same thing I just told you and I don’t think there will be any problems. “For now I prefer to point to the sleeve and that’s what I will do.”
