England to take the knee before Monday’s game against Iran, says coach Southgate

“It’s what we stand for as a team and have done for a long period of time,” said Southgate. We feel this is the biggest 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,” Southgate told reporters.

🗣 “We feel this is the biggest. A strong statement that will go around the World.”

Gareth Southgate confirms England will take the knee before kick-off against Iran pic.twitter.com/TZduNDCoua

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 20, 2022

“We have discussed taking the knee,” Southgate said. “We feel we should. It’s what we stand for as a team and have done for a long period of time. “Of course, we understand in the Premier League that clubs have decided to only do that for certain games, big occasions, we feel this is the biggest.”We think it is a strong statement to go around the world for young people in particular to see that inclusivity is very important.”

Southgate on Iran

Iran’s government has been under fire for over two months by women-led protests triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amino, a 22-year old woman who was arrested by the morality police in Tehran.

But Southgate didn’t want to make any comments on the issue ahead of England’s opener against Iran.

“I don’t feel informed enough to comment on what’s going on in Iran,” he said. “I don’t think it’s my place to comment on it either.”