Crystal Palace ace Zaha becomes first Premier League star NOT to take a knee

Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha made good on his vow not to take a knee anymore as he became the first Premier League star to go against the grain since the gesture was introduced.
Zaha stood tall while others around him knelt before the kick-off as Palace took on West Brom in the Premier League on Saturday, making the 28-year-old Ivory Coast star the first footballer in England’s top flight to shun the move.

The former Manchester United star initially explained his decision back in February, saying: “I feel like taking a knee is degrading.

“Growing up, my parents just let me know that I should just be proud to be black, no matter what, and I just think we should stand tall.

“I think the meaning behind the whole thing is becoming something that we just do now. That’s not enough. I’m not going to take the knee.”
Ahead of kick-off, Zaha had released a statement to reiterate the thinking behind the step.

"There is no right or wrong but I feel kneeling just became a part of pre-match routine and at the moment, it doesn't matter whether we kneel or stand. Some of us still continue to receive abuse,” he said.