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Italy will take the knee before Belgium clash 'as a sign of solidarity' - but national team 'do not support Black Lives Matter'

The Italian Football Federation made a pair of statements clarifying the national team's stance

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has confirmed that the national team will take the knee as a sign of solidarity if their next opponents Belgium choose to do so, but says doing so is not in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign.

The statement comes after centre-back Giorgio Chiellini said that the team would kneel if an opponent did so.

Amid confusion on whether players were free to kneel, the federation backed that viewpoint, saying that taking the knee will be done to show solidarity with their opponents.