Crystal Palace’s Patrick van Aanholt was subjected to racist abuse on Instagram after Wednesday’s Premier League draw at home to Manchester United. Van Aanholt tweeted “Why we kneel …” with a photograph of the racist message he received after the goalless draw in which he missed a 90th-minute chance. Any goal might have been ruled out for offside.
Van Aanholt’s clubmate Wilfried Zaha said last month he would stop taking a knee because he believed the protest was no longer sufficient. “I feel like taking a knee is degrading,” said the forward, who has not played since.
Premier League players have been taking a knee before matches since July, initially in support of the Black Lives Matter movement before the league linked the gesture to its own anti-racism campaign.
Manchester United’s Axel Tuanzebe, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Lauren James, Chelsea’s Reece James, West Brom’s Romaine Sawyers, Southampton’s Alex Jankewitz and Arsenal’s Willian and Eddie Nketiah are among the players who have been sent online racist abuse in recent weeks.
