Gnonto and Summerville take a stand
Premier League clubs no longer take a knee before every match. At the start of this season, the division made it clear its clubs, including Leeds United, would only do so in specified matches to raise awareness of the fight against racism in the sport.
Saturday’s trip to Everton was one of those games, but while everyone else took the knee, Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto decided to remain standing. Wilfried Zaha is another footballer in the division who has taken that stance in the past too, as he suggested the knee gesture has lost its meaning.
Gnonto loses his head
After the full-time whistle, Gnonto’s running battle with Seamus Coleman proved too much to contain. The pair had been up against each other all afternoon and after a bitter defeat like Saturday’s, it was never going to take much for emotions to boil over.
READ MORE: Every word Michael Skubala said on Leeds United's defeat, fan anger, injuries, Gnonto flare up
It’s unclear what the flashpoint was, but it was impossible to ignore the pair of them going head-to-head near the centre circle until teammates stepped in. Michael Skubala was on hand to try and hold Gnonto back, while James Tarkowski had a nibble at the diminutive Italian too.
Once he was pushed away and towards the fans, fresh from a yellow card, it was Summerville who was then seen running over to have a word in Gnonto’s ear.
Board under the spotlight
Jesse Marsch has gone and Michael Skubala’s blameless in this horrible situation so supporter ire always has to go in some direction. It was the board (Andrea Radrizzani, Angus Kinnear, Paraag Marathe, Peter Lowy, Massimo Marinelli and Sandro Mencucci) and Victor Orta who were on the receiving end in the second half.
“Sack the board” was the first chant which came booming from the away corner at Goodison Park before “Orta, time to go” followed before the full-time whistle. Radrizzani was not present on Merseyside, but Kinnear, Marinelli and Orta were seen at the front of the directors’ box.
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