Taking the knee: Scotland decide to stand up to racism at Euro 2020

Scotland players will “stand up to racism” at Euro 2020 rather than take the knee before matches, the Scottish Football Association have announced.

Why it matters

Some England fans booed the gesture before warm-up games against Austria and Romania at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough last week. England boss Gareth Southgate has declared that the squad will continue to take the knee at Euro 2020.

What Scotland have decided

The Scotland squad switched to standing for the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign in March after head coach Steve Clarke claimed the knee gesture had become “maybe a little bit diluted”.

The move followed several Scottish Premiership clubs switching gestures in a bid to reinforce the anti-racism message. Scotland players will continue to stand at Euro 2020.

What has been said

A statement from the Scottish Football Association read: “The squad, coaching staff and backroom members will stand up to racism ahead of the Group D matches against Czech Republic, England and Croatia.”

Captain Andy Robertson added: “It is important we continue to tackle the issue of racism and raise awareness of the need to change people’s mindsets but also their behaviours.

“Prior to our World Cup qualifiers in March we spoke as a group and felt that taking a stand was the best way for us to show solidarity and also to reinforce the need for meaningful change in society.”