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Taking the knee gesture reduced
Premier League players will no longer take the knee before kick-off in each match — although the gesture will still be used on occasion.
The decision was reached after consultation with all 20 top-flight clubs, with the consensus among captains being that “less is more” in terms of sending an impactful message.
Therefore, teams will still carry out the gesture on weekends of note — such as the season’s opening and closing rounds, as well as the Boxing Day fixture list.
Premier League chief Richard Masters said: “We met with the captains last week, they’re still totally committed to the issue.
“For two years now taking the knee has become part of the pre-match ritual. The players fear it’s losing power and momentum and we will now see it take place in a different format.
“It’s up to the players to decide themselves and we support them in whatever decision they make, as do the clubs.”
Ramsdale stands by social media restrictions
Arsenal stopper Aaron Ramsdale has no intention of re-opening his Instagram account to public comments following abuse he received last year.
The England international’s £24million move to the Emirates from Sheffield United last summer was met with a raft of negativity online, leading Ramsdale to limit who can interact with his social media posts.
And despite now being a popular figure after a stellar campaign, the 24-year-old will not be reversing his decision any time soon.
Ramsdale said: “At the very start it was difficult. I had a lot of negativity around the signing, with idiots online saying, ‘Don’t sign’.
“Not necessarily death threats but threats saying things like, ‘We know where you live’ and things like that. Trying to scare me.
“Quite quickly I turned all that stuff off. Social media for me is a place to communicate with my friends and with the fans as well, but with limits on who can actually reach me.
“You are just setting yourself up for a downfall. As much as I love the fans, they don’t really have an opinion on what we do on the pitch.
“The people I need to impress are the manager, the coaching staff and ultimately my team-mates. If I have their trust, then I’ll have the fans’ trust as well.”
After Bernd Leno’s move to Fulham was confirmed, Arsenal’s first-choice stopper has been rewarded with the No1 jersey, after wearing No32 last term.
WSL coverage to kick off next month
England’s stunning Euro 2022 triumph has captured the hearts of a nation — and it has set the scene for a landmark WSL campaign.
Games will be broadcast across the BBC, Sky Sports and the FA website, with the flagship free-to-air broadcaster committing to 22 matches this term.
The first of those clashes will see reigning champions Chelsea, featuring Lionesses defender Millie Bright, begin their title defence at home to West Ham on September 11.
Aston Villa’s contest with Manchester City on September 18 and a tasty North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham on September 24 will also be live on the BBC.
Sky Sports will again show at least 35 games across the campaign, including the season-opening clash between Tottenham and Manchester United on September 10.
Key figures from across the women’s game have highlighted the importance of capitalising on the surge in interest, with several WSL clubs already reporting spikes in season ticket sales.
