Countless times we've seen football stars and athletes all over the world take a knee just before the start of a game. Ever wondered why they do this? Well, today in this article i would explain what it means to take "a knee" and why football stars and athletes do this before the start of a game. # What does it mean to take a knee in football? Taking a Knee is a gesture where an individual kneels down on one knee as opposed to the usual standing during reciting of the national anthem or on any other occasion. Most times players do this just before Kick off or the start of a game. They engage in the act to show that there is no room for racism in football and that game is for all. ![downloadfile-2.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmQmuF7ktnU14AF5BtvRFmwxfBiW7nW9rw3WLCKxksxFCf/downloadfile-2.jpg) ^Source

Historically, kneeling has been used in the time past to show a form of solidarity against the abuse of human right and in political abuse. Since footballers and athletes are expected to be neutral and stick to sport, taking a Knee just before kick off gives them the opportunity to express themselves and also helps them to join the rest of the world to fight against racism and injustice. The first act of kneeling as a form of protest can be traced back to the Civil right movement led by activist Martin Luther King and his fellow Freedom Fighters when they did this in the United state just after a prayer when a group of protesters where arrested during a match to Dallas County Alabama courthouse on February 1, 1965. > Many are "more dedicated to order than to justice, "offended by kneeling during the Anthem & not by racism & modern-day lynching. #TakeAKnee pic.twitter.com/E23oM1ZW6X — The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (@TheKingCenter) # How and where did taking a knee start in Sports The first ever record of a high profile sports star taking a knee happened in August, 2016. When former San Fran quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat down instead of standing during the reciting of the national anthem in other to silently protest against police brutality and racism across the United State. Kaepernick went ahead to take a knee during a couple of games, but in June, 2020 following the social unrest that resulted during the death of Gorge Floyd in the hands of a police officer, sports stars and footballers began making the gesture to show solidarity with the rest of the world. ![_118857722_gettyimages-613279830.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmWmid4bbAo85rWsWyzizL18sh17g5ZSxuT1NegJRq5MvD/_118857722_gettyimages-613279830.jpg) [Source]( https://images.hive.blog/DQmWmid4bbAo85rWsWyzizL18sh17g5ZSxuT1NegJRq5MvD/_118857722_gettyimages-613279830.jpg)] # Taking a knee in Football The first ever football player to take a knee is U.S football star, Megan Rap . She did this to silently protest against racism and racial inequality joining the likes of Kaepernick. The Midfielder also took a knee before the start of a game during the NSWL match between the Chicago Red Star and Seattle Reign in September, 2016. ![downloadfile-3.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmatpavX5b1rZgXGcS2TN6MgiKtsyn5q4jYwra7oRrrTxx/downloadfile-3.jpg) ^Source

In the UK taking a knee became more associated with football players when Football stars and officials began taking the knee as a form of stand against racism and racial inequality and to support the black life matter movement. In the premier league players name's where replaced with the "black life matter" tag for the first 12 games of the restarted season with players kneeling before the first whistle. Liverpoo, Defender Alexandra Arnold. Went ahead to condemn racism saying > " Meaningful Change" to fight racism as he declared that the system is broken; ![downloadfile-4.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmdNZ2QkMUW3T4LighETWNTCLtCtoL27Kq7qdt2jJ55VQQ/downloadfile-4.jpg) ^Source

Thanks for reading.