Italy have reportedly decided as a squad not to take the knee for the Black Lives Matter movement before their Euro 2020 match against Austria.

It kicks off at Wembley on Saturday at 20.00 UK time for the Round of 16.

The gesture of taking the knee is still regularly done before kick-off in most matches in England, which continued into the Euros for the international team.

It was performed in Italy and most other European leagues only the first weekend of the protests.

A spokesman for the Azzurri said that there was “some confusion” ahead of the group game with Wales, when five players joined in with the Welsh taking the knee – Andrea Belotti, Emerson Palmieri, Rafael Toloi, Matteo Pessina and Federico Bernardeschi.

They assured not taking part in this ‘symbolic’ gesture ‘does not mean ignoring the fight against racism.’

The team decided it would discuss the matter before the next match at Wembley and make a collective decision rather than the somewhat chaotic approach taken with Wales.

According to RAI Sport, Italy have decided they will stand before kick-off, and captain – in the absence of injured Giorgio Chiellini – Leonardo Bonucci will explain their reasoning in today’s press conference.

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