Premier League players will take the knee before matches during the gameweek 23 round of top-flight matches.
The gesture will return before games including the London derby between West Ham United and Chelsea, leaders Arsenal's visit from Brentford and the latest instalment of the fiercely-contested rivalry between Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion.
The decision has been made following an agreement at the start of the 2022/23 season that teams would save the gesture for specific matchdays.
Here's why players will be taking the knee before kickoff, a look at how the initiative has evolved and when we'll be seeing it again.
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History of Premier League players taking the knee
The England national team have been taking the knee since 2020 as part of a worldwide anti-racism movement accelerated by the death of African-American George Floyd at the hands of US police brutality in May that year.
Premier League players performed the gesture for more than a year before deciding to limit its usage at the start of this season.
The Three Lions also took the knee before matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. "It's what we stand for as a team and have done for a long period of time," England head coach Gareth Southgate told the media before the tournament began.
"We feel this is the biggest stage and we think it's a strong statement that will go around the world for young people, in particular, to see that inclusivity is very important."
🗣️ "We think it's a strong statement."
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 20, 2022
Gareth Southgate has confirmed that England will take the knee before tomorrow’s game against Iran 🏴 pic.twitter.com/xDoXPtTtZE
Black Lives Matter: Why do footballers kneel?
In 2016, San Francisco 49ers player Colin Kaepernick opted to kneel during the US national anthem as a protest against racism in the country.
Kaepernick had previously sat on the bench but was persuaded to switch to the kneeling gesture, which has been taken by an increasing number of players and teams ever since.
The death of Floyd in Minneapolis led to a rise in awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement, which was launched in 2013 and campaigns for racial equality, justice and social change.
Athletes who take the knee do so because they want to show solidarity with that cause and oppose racism and discrimination on a high-profile stage – often with millions watching around the world.
MORE: Barack Obama supports Colin Kaepernick's right to protest U.S. flag, anthem
What action has the Premier League taken against racism?
The Premier League has highlighted a range of measures it has taken over the years to reduce discrimination, including steps to make it easier for clubs and individuals to identify bigotry, social media campaigns and a commitment to spreading awareness that racism is not acceptable in football.
Organisers and clubs agreed in 2019 that more needed to be done to ensure Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) fans and players were supported. They also backed plans to improve career pathways to encourage greater diversity in coaching, refereeing and administrative roles within the sport.
Each season, two matchweeks celebrate the league's 'No Room for Racism' campaign, with stadiums across the country displaying the project banner.
The League supported players’ wishes to have 'Black Lives Matter' on their shirts for the remainder of the 2019/20 season when it was restarted during the Covid pandemic, as well as backing stars who chose to take a knee before or during matches.
There is No Room For Racism. Anywhere.#NoRoomForRacism pic.twitter.com/CoN0Dc2PXH
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 28, 2022
The English Football League, Professional Footballers' Association, anti-racism campaign Kick it Out and the police have collaborated with the Premier League on anti-discrimination work.
Which sports have taken the knee in the past?
From Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League to rugby union and cricket, the gesture has been visible before some games and events in almost all sports during recent years
Ballon d'Or Feminin and US national team captain Megan Rapinoe was among Kaepernick's earliest supporters, taking the knee in 2016.
Rapinoe's Team USA squad went on to perform the gesture before their matches at the 2020 Olympic Games, which were held in Japan in 2021.
Premier League fixtures: When are players taking the knee again?
Premier League matches between February 11 and 19 will be dedicated to the No Room for Racism campaign.
Top-flight players previously took the knee for the first game of the season, two weekends in October and matches on December 26 2022.
