QPR director Les Ferdinand defends club over decision not to take the knee

Ferdinand: 'Taking the knee was very powerful but we feel that impact has now been diluted'
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Malik Ouzia @MalikOuzia_21 September 2020

QPR Director of Football Les Ferdinand has defended the club’s decision not to take the knee prior to Friday night’s Championship meeting with Coventry.

Neither team’s players, nor the match officials, made the gesture ahead of kick-off, a practice which was adopted as a show of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement towards the end of last season.

Several teams have opted against taking the knee this season – in fact, QPR themselves did not do so before their first game of the season against Nottingham Forest – but the incident on Friday was the first time it had not occurred prior to a live televised game and drew criticism from some quarters.

Afterwards, QPR manager Mark Warburton reaffirmed the club’s commitment to tackling racism and criticised football authorities for a lack of guidance on the matter.

Ferdinand has been one of the most prominent voices in football in the fight against racism, and said in a club statement: “Taking the knee was very powerful but we feel that impact has now been diluted.

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“In the same way ‘Clap For Carers’ was very emotional for us all, it got to a stage where it had run its natural course and the decision was rightly made to stop it.

“Does that mean we, as a nation, don’t care or appreciate our NHS workers? Of course it doesn’t.

“No one is more passionate than me about this topic. I have spoken on the matter throughout my footballing life.

“I work for one of the most diverse football clubs in this country. A lot of people are being fooled out there.”

Warburton: Our players had said 'Do we keep on doing it? What's the stance?' 
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Ferdinand added that he felt taking the knee had become a case of “good PR” and that the “message has ben lost”.

“What are our plans with this? Will people be happy for players to take the knee for the next ten years but see no actual progress made?

“Taking the knee will not bring about change in the game - actions will.”