Romania's Nicolae Stanciu says his decision not to take the knee against England on Sunday was a show of solidarity with Ondrej Kudela, his Slavia Prague teammate.
Kudela was handed 10-game ban for racially abusing Rangers' Glen Kamara back in March.
The incident occurred during a Europa League last 16 second leg at Ibrox with UEFA punishing him for "racist behaviour".
An official investigation found him guilty of using a racial slur and his unsuccessful appeal means he is unable to play at Euro 2020 this summer.
Kudela was accused of calling Kamara a “f***** monkey”, although he denied racist abuse, claiming: "I told him 'You're a f****** guy'."
Stanciu though believes Kudela was reprimanded without any proof and choose not to follow his Romanian teammates in taking the knee at the Riverside Stadium.
When quizzed about his actions after the game he voiced his support of Kudela.
"I did the same with Slavia, when I played against Arsenal in the quarter finals of the Europa League," Stanciu said, as per Daily Record.
"It seems normal to me, and I decided to make the gesture for my colleague from Slavia, for Kudela, who without any proof was suspended for 10 matches after the game against Rangers.
"Just like that because a team-mate of Kamara's heard that word that I can't say. I decided not to take the knee and I don't think that's the solution."
Stanciu's club teammate, Ianis Hagi, is also club colleagues with Kamara.
Stanciu was one of two Romanian players who chose not to take the knee on Sunday.
England players continued to perform the gesture despite being jeered by sections of the crowd on Wednesday night.
Some fans jeered once again before Sunday's win but Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate said: “I don't want to give it any more oxygen than I did yesterday (Saturday).
"We have answered it as much as we can. I have made it clear where the players stand with it.
“We are a united group. We are going to keep doing it.”
