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Jordan Henderson: "It is very simple – we are protesting against racism"


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Liverpool captains Niamh Fahey and Jordan Henderson say they are proud to continue taking the knee this season. 

It was confirmed last week that all Premier League clubs had agreed to continue making the anti-racism statement ahead of each game.

British Home Secretary Priti Patel faced the wrath of Tyrone Mings after she described taking the knee as "gesture politics", while other right-wing yahoos have attempted conflate taking the knee with what they think is Marxism.

Speaking ahead of the new season, Henderson had a simple message for those questioning the gesture.

"There has been unfounded debate about why footballers are continuing to demonstrate in this way but there should be none," he said.

"It is very simple – we are protesting against racism.

“The question should no longer be why are we doing it, it should be why wouldn’t we? This is a necessary response to a problem that we know exists and which we also know should not be happening.

“So I’m proud of my teammates when we take the knee and I also couldn’t have been prouder to be captain of this club when our supporters applauded us as we did so.

“It is only by doing what is right and coming together that we can achieve positive change and it is in this spirit that we will carry on taking the knee.”

It was a sentiment echoed by Liverpool Women's captain, and Republic of Ireland defender, Niamh Fahey.

She added, "As a women’s team we’re pleased that the football authorities will once again support squads who wish to take the knee.

“We saw even this summer around the Euros that the scourge of racism remains not just in football but in society. It shows, sadly, that the reason we took the knee last season remains every bit as relevant this season.

“It is our way of saying there is no place for racism or other forms of discrimination in our game, and that things must change.

“We will proudly wear the Take A Stand badges on our playing shirts this season and we know our supporters will be firmly behind us when we take the knee before our games.”

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Jordan Henderson Liverpool Niamh Fahey Premier League Racism Take The Knee

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