Muhammed Ali is perhaps a good example, because he really did have something to lose.
I think Colin Kapernick is not as good, he wasn't a good player, and in the current environment what he did was guaranteed to be embraced by the cultural leadership of the english speaking world, he was basically held up as a hero, and got his own TV show.
If a premier league player refused to kneel for BLM, he would be banished from football and public life forever, for being an evil racist. And would probably have a hard time finding any work for a long time.
Imagine the kerfluffle if a national team passed on Qatar or if a Messi or similar just said no. It's being applied to Russia for international aggression, so maybe ethics-and-fairness might happen someday?
I think Colin Kapernick is not as good, he wasn't a good player, and in the current environment what he did was guaranteed to be embraced by the cultural leadership of the english speaking world, he was basically held up as a hero, and got his own TV show.
If a premier league player refused to kneel for BLM, he would be banished from football and public life forever, for being an evil racist. And would probably have a hard time finding any work for a long time.