Premier League: Harry Kane backs continuous Black Lives Matter movement

Harry Kane backs continuous Black Lives Matter movement in the Premier League

Harry Kane celebrates with teammate, Heung Min Son in the premier league. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

England and Tottenham striker, Harry Kane has thrown his weight behind the continuous recognition of the Black Lives Matter movement in the premier league that sees the player take the knee before games.

 

The gesture of solidarity has taken place before every Premier League fixture since English football's restart in June, a month after unarmed Black man George Floyd died in police custody in Minnesota after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for several minutes.

Matches across leagues in the world including internationals like the UEFA Nations League, European Championship qualifiers and friendlies have featured players taking the knee for seconds before the game but some notable names in the game are voting that the gesture should stop.

Premier League great and QPR director of football, Les Ferdinand opined that the taking of knee should stop as it has been diluted through excessive use.

"I hear people ask if we should still be doing it and we should. What people don't realize is sometimes we are watched by millions of people round the world. Of course, for the person who watches the Premier League every week, they see the same thing every week," Kane told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"But I think if you look around the world you see children watching the game for the first time, seeing us all take a knee and asking their parents and asking why we take the knee.

"It's a great chance for people to explain why and get their point across. Education is the biggest thing we can do. Adults can teach generations what it means, and what it means to be together and help each other no matter what your race."

Harry Kane went further to laud England teammates, both from either side of Manchester clubs, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling for their amazing efforts in catering to children in the UK

"What Marcus and Raheem have done has been incredible and you see a lot of the work players do for communities and charities, I know first-hand that players are doing an awful lot," he added.

"I don't like it when people say we should just play football and stick to kicking a ball, because we have a huge platform. We come across to millions round the world. Our voices should be heard.

"All we want to do is help and help the world be a better place. The more education the younger generations get, hopefully as time goes by racism will be a thing of the past and that's got to be the aim -- especially with children. We want to bring them into a world where were all together and we all understand each other.