Premier League captains will decide to kneel this season

Premier League captains will meet again this week to decide whether they should continue to kneel ahead of games in the coming season.

The anti-racism gesture has been a regular feature of English football since the summer of 2020 and has been seen as a crucial symbol in the sport's fight against discrimination.

Its importance has been regularly debated and some clubs, most recently Sky Bet Championship sides Bristol City and Swansea last week, have decided to stop kneeling.

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A meeting between the 20 Premier League captains was held on Thursday with the subject of whether to keep kneeling, but after a wide variety of views no final decision has been made and another meeting is scheduled for this week. , the PA news agency understands.

The Premier League are said to be happy to back the players on whatever pick they decide, but a decision is expected shortly, with the top flight due to kick off on Friday when Crystal Palace host Arsenal.

What will definitely return in the next term is players dating again and may shake hands or bump fists. The coronavirus pandemic has seen handshakes stopped in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus, but it will again be part of the pre-game ritual.

The 2022-23 campaign is set to be another unique season with a five-week break in November and December during the World Cup in Qatar.

A return to the Premier League is set for Boxing Day, but steps have been taken by the league to ensure player welfare is the top priority and no team will be invited to play twice within 48 hours during the three matches between December 26 and January 2.

Premier League clubs who still have a number of players in England have been allowed by FIFA and the competition to hold low-key friendlies during this period as well, but they must not conflict with Premier League matches. the World Cup.

With the World Cup being in December, the league has changed when it will dedicate a series of matches to the Rainbow Laces campaign.

This usually happens in the last month of the year and closest to Rainbow Laces Day, but two match rounds will be dedicated to the LGBTQ+ campaign on October 22-23 and 29-30.

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The Premier League will also hold two No Room for Racism campaigns in the first half of the season on 8-9 and 15-16 September.