Black History Month was first celebrated in 1987, with the upcoming 2026 Black History Month being it’s 40^th anniversary. But how does this celebration effect football?

Arguable, the Premier League has always stood up to racism the most out of the major football leagues. For example, they were the first league to introduce the “taking the knee” gesture. It was first introduced in a game between Aston Villa and Sheffield Utd, with the players, match officials and staff all showing respect to the Black Lives Matter movement. However, the gesture went out of convention in 2022, after all the Premier League captains voted against the act, following the protests of African footballer Wilfried Zaha with him stating the gesture was “degrading” and arguing it had become a meaningless pre-match routine.

^{Wilfried Zaha not taking the knee.}

Nowadays, the Premier League continues to stand up to racism. Recently, Sky Sports interviewed some Premier players, asking their opinion on Black History Month, and what it means to them.

“It’s always good to inspire,” Kyle Walker said to Sky Sports, “considering what I’ve had to deal with, on and off the field, I think that’s only made me stronger.” Kyle Walker received many racist comments following Man City’s 2-0 loss to Juventus on the 11^{th of} December 2024. Kyle Walker took a screenshot of a message and and posted it online. In this post, he wrote, “No one should ever be subjected to the sort of vile, racist and threatening abuse I have received online since last night’s match.” Walker then left Manchester City that January.

^{Walker applauding the City fans after their loss to Juventus in Turin.}

Sky Sports also interviewed Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who stated that for him, Black History Month was about learning about role models and how become a better role model himself. “For me as a kid, having role models of colour, and then becoming… a role model myself today – which is still strange for me – I think it (Black History Month) is massively important.”

In conclusion, the Premier League sees Black History Month as a time to inspire others, and a time to respect people irrespective of their backgrounds and race. The month also provides a time to inspire and be a role model for younger generations to come.