Taking the Knee

Taken from the podcast ‘Study 4 English with Tom Hollett‘.

In this English practise exercise I reflect upon the end of the ritual that required English premier league football players to bend one knee to the ground before every match.

1. Listen to the first part of the audio and decide which argument you agree with the most.

2. Review the 20 vocabulary items here as I explain each meaning in the second part of the audio.

Jeered – shouted insults at someone to show a lack of respect

Undeterred – continue to do something despite a bad situation

Booing – expression of strong disapproval or disagreement

Scourge – something that causes great suffering or trouble

Benevolent – kind and helpful

Overwhelming – difficult to fight against

Sceptical – doubting that something is true or useful

Counterproductive – having an effect that is the opposite of the one intended or wanted

Cacophony – unpleasant mixture of loud sounds

Cynical – believing that people are not sincere

Provocative – causing an angry reaction, usually intentionally

Wield – to have a lot of power, authority or influence

Monumental – very big

Invoked – used a law to achieve something

Plunder – to steal or remove something precious in a way that is immoral and more severe than needed

Profligate – spending money in a way that wastes it and is not wise

Align – to agree with or support another view

Recrimination – arguments between people who are blaming each other

Baseless – not based on facts

Harbour – to feel something, usually over a long period of time

Insidious – something unpleasant and dangerous, gradually and secretly causing harm

3. Listen again and complete the text with the correct word.

Taking the knee

Footballers and referees will no longer put one knee on the ground before the start of premier league games. This pre-match ritual has been abandoned for the 2022-2023 season but may continue on a voluntary basis.

The gesture of kneeling has been controversial. It was introduced during the first wave of SARS covid-19, when players were playing matches in empty stadiums. The first time that fans expressed their feelings about it was an England match in 2021 when a significant number _________ the kneeling players. Those fans were heavily criticised in the media with many commentators accusing them of racism. But _____________, the _______ continued to accompany the kneeling gesture before England games.

Proponents claim that taking the knee is an anti-racist gesture and part of a much-needed social movement to eliminate the __________ of racism from British society. Opponents argue that the gesture brought politics into a sporting arena where it doesn’t belong and that the kind of politics associated with the gesture are radical and dangerous to society. 

If one takes a _______________ view of the gesture by assuming that its intent is both noble and necessary, how do we measure its success? An ______________ majority of players and clubs united in support of the kneeling gesture so we might assume that this has sent a strong message to discourage racists from being racist, at least in public. While it’s difficult to quantify how much it reduced racism across society, if it has led to less prejudice then this is obviously a good thing.

If one takes a _____________ view we might feel that the kneeling ritual has become ___________________, as some players refused to participate, and referees cut the duration to just a few seconds, presumably before the ______________ of noise from unhappy spectators got too loud. Sceptics may also be suspicious of the claim that it’s a social movement and not ‘political’, having seen the ‘fight for social justice’ become a popular political message in recent years.

And if one takes a __________ view then we might conclude that the gesture was intentionally ______________. Not by the players who thought they were doing the right thing, but by private interests with the financial power to ________ an influence over the professional game. Taking the knee was introduced at a _____________ moment in British history when the government  _________ emergency powers to restrict civil liberties, close schools and businesses, and _________ the treasury with ____________ spending. Arguing over a symbolic gesture took attention away from extremely controversial policies with far-reaching consequences for the nation.

An individual’s feelings about knee-bending often ________ with one’s belief that the gesture is ‘social’ or ‘political’, and that belief tends to conform to one’s political preferences. Knee-bending supporters are broadly more favourable to left-wing progressive politics, whilst opponents are more likely to favour traditional, conservative values.

I’d argue that players should feel free to go down on one knee if they wish. Equally, players should feel free to refuse the gesture without facing _______________. Spectators should feel free to applaud or jeer the gesture and the media should remain free to assume whatever motives they wish to both the applauders and the jeerers. 

The rest of us are free too, to interpret the commentary of the media as genuine or __________. We might decide that some fans jeer knee-taking because they secretly __________ racist desires to boo black players. Alternatively, we might decide that the media are paid to add fuel to an _____________ campaign of division that keeps the football-loving general public arguing amongst ourselves instead of uniting together. Just as the ancient Roman poet Juvenal wrote, “Give them bread and circuses and they will never revolt”.

4. Go back to 2 to check your answers. The vocabulary follows in the same order as the text.

5. Do the crossword.