Players from both QPR and Coventry opted to forgo the pre-match ritual which has been commonplace in English football, and throughout the rest of the world, in the wake of the death of George Floyd in May and the resulting protests which have been galvanized by the 'Black Lives Matter' movement.

This was the first time that a recent televised game in England began without players from either team briefly kneeling before kick-off - but Director of Football Les Ferdinand said that the decision wasn't made through a lack of support for racial equality, but rather because the club feels that the gesture has become 'diluted'.

"We have noted with great interest a number of people within football and media questioning our decision not to take the knee before the game," Ferdinand said in a statement released by the club Monday afternoon.

"The decision - which was made jointly with Coventry City and the match referee ahead of the fixture - was not made to suggest a lack of support for the Black Lives Matter movement.