In recent years, the act of taking a knee before football matches to protest racism and social injustice has had a huge impact upon the world of football. In numerous European men’s football competitions such as the Champions League and the Europa League, players have repeatedly kneeled down before the start of a match. The gesture’s popularity and significance can be traced back to August 2016, when American football player Colin Kaepernick protested the police murders of Black people by taking a knee as the US national anthem played before a match. Kneeling as a sign of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and in protest of racism and police violence subsequently spread as a political practice in many parts of the US, Germany, and other European countries.

At the mens’ UEFA European Football Championship in 2021, England’s team performed the kneeling gesture before every game, while others—such as Germany’s team—only did so at certain matches. The European Football Association (UEFA), which is usually very strict when it comes to political actions in stadiums, refrained from imposing sanctions and declared: ‘[A]ny player who wants to demand equality amongst human beings by taking the knee will be allowed to do so.’ At a minimum, these actions in stadiums have raised awareness of racism in football and in society, triggering a public debate. Discriminatory incidents during football matches in European stadiums, both on the pitch between men (more so than women) and in the stands by fans, have been occurring for years. Numerous organizations and initiatives throughout Europe have regularly documented racist, anti-semitic, and sexist insults, chants, posters, and banners. Homophobic insults and chants are also not uncommon during football matches. For many queer and non-binary players and fans, football stadiums and pitches are unsafe or even hostile. In football clubs, however, there is a knee-jerk reaction to link this behaviour to individual fans or scenes.

Many European stadiums repeat the following scene: two football teams with players from different backgrounds face each other on the pitch, while the bench is occupied exclusively by white coaches. This configuration makes obvious the structural discrimination against BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of colour) individuals within clubs and associations. Women also face unequal treatment in football. Compared to men’s leagues, women also receive significantly lower financial resources, media coverage, and attention, to name just a few aspects.

For various communities, the role of football at a local level is all the more important. As the most popular sport in many countries, football bears a special responsibility for the realization of a diverse and inclusive society. Clubs both professional and amateur are equally important for migrant communities, particularly teens, and for people with disabilities. Low-threshold, uncomplicated ways to join local football clubs and school teams create strong social opportunities for identification, strengthening self-confidence, self-esteem, and recognition. Founded in 1978 in Kreuzberg, Berlin and now playing in the Oberliga Nordost division, Türkiyemspor is considered the largest sports club in Europe founded by migrants. Players who began their careers at Türkiyemspor have made it into the national teams of Azerbaijan, Egypt, Nigeria, Palestine, Tunisia, and Turkey. Other clubs in the Berlin-Lige such as Berlin Türkspor 1965, Berlin Hilalspor, and SD Croatia Berlin were founded by migrants, and all place an emphasis on youth work as the driving force behind the clubs’ founding. Whether or not their players ‘make it’ to a bigger club or become professionals (or want to make it at all), the place these clubs have in individuals’ lives deserve more attention, social recognition, and ultimately, political and financial support.

On four evenings during the month of June, the Paulette Nardal Terrace is transformed into an open-air cinema as part of Ballet of the Masses. Co-conceptualized with Enoka Ayemba, the four-part series Take the Knee presents films that bring to the foreground footballers who receive little attention, are usually overlooked, or even deliberately ignored in both global and local settings. The screenings are followed by discussions with guests who open up a space for discourse on football and its historical, cultural, and socio-political significance.
 

Co-conceptualized with Enoka Ayemba