Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has defended Dominic Calvert-Lewin after the striker chose to stand rather than take the knee before Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester United.
Players across the English top flight took the knee over the weekend as part of the league’s ongoing No Room for Racism campaign. However, Calvert-Lewin was among the few who opted to remain standing, alongside Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Issa Diop and Marc Guéhi, who made the same decision before their respective matches on Saturday.
The gesture sparked attention ahead of Leeds’ meeting with Manchester United, but Farke insisted that the striker’s decision should not be interpreted as a lack of support for the campaign.
Speaking after the game at Elland Road, the Leeds boss explained that Calvert-Lewin had chosen a different way to demonstrate his respect for the initiative.
“Dom [Calvert-Lewin] is more or less like, ‘No, I don’t go down. I show my respect by standing up,’ every individual is different and shows respect for this campaign in a different way,” Farke said.
The German manager also backed the Premier League’s decision to use football as a platform to challenge racism and promote inclusion. He pointed to the diversity within football dressing rooms as an example of how people from different backgrounds can work together towards a common goal.
“It’s definitely a good campaign and a good topic that football and sports, in general, support situations like this because a dressing room is a perfect example of how we should all live together.
“Different passports, different languages, different religions, but they are all together as human beings and friends who work together toward one target. This is how the world should be.”
Calvert-Lewin also made his mark on the pitch, scoring Leeds’ equaliser in the draw against Manchester United. His contribution ensured the discussion surrounding his pre-match decision came alongside his performance during the game.
The Premier League’s anti-racism campaign aligns with Black History Month and has continued to use football’s visibility to highlight discrimination and encourage greater inclusion across the sport.
The practice of taking the knee became a prominent feature of football’s response to racism in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd in the United States by former police officer Derek Chauvin. The gesture subsequently became a regular sight at Premier League matches as players and clubs sought to demonstrate solidarity against racial discrimination.
However, not every player has chosen to participate in the same way. Wilfried Zaha, then playing for Crystal Palace, became the first Premier League player to publicly opt against taking the knee before a match in 2021.
Farke’s response to Calvert-Lewin’s decision reinforces his view that individuals can express their support for anti-racism efforts differently. While the league continues to promote its campaign, the Leeds manager has urged a broader understanding of how players choose to demonstrate respect.
The debate comes as football continues to balance collective gestures with individual choices, with the Premier League’s anti-racism message remaining a central part of its efforts to tackle discrimination.
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