Minimal Impact, Alonso Stops Kneeling Before The Game

JAKARTA - Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso said on Sunday he had stopped kneeling before games this season because the anti-racism movement had "lost its power".

Players and staff have been on their knees before kickoff since the league restarted in June last year to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Alonso decided to stand while the other players knelt, pointing to the "No Room For Racism" badge on his sleeve to highlight the issue.

"I prefer to do it this way, of course, I am against racism and I respect everyone," Alonso said after Sunday's 3-0 Premier League victory against Tottenham Hotspur.

"I think it loses a bit of meaning in other ways, so I prefer to do it this way," added Alonso.

Chelsea is top of the table after five games and will host Aston Villa in the League Cup on Wednesday.