Player names to be replaced by 'Black Lives Matter' when Premier League resumes

 

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Manchester City - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - February 22, 2020 General view of the match ball on the pitch Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

 

(Reuters) - English Premier League players will pay tribute to worldwide anti-racism movements by wearing shirts with the words "Black Lives Matter" on the back during the opening round of fixtures at the season's restart.

 

The Premier League has approved for player surnames to be replaced on the back of their shirts with the slogan, while the BLM logo will be displayed on the front for the first 12 matches of the restarted season.

 

"We, the players, stand together with the singular objective of eradicating racial prejudice wherever it exists, to bring about a global society of inclusion, respect, and equal opportunities for all, regardless of their colour or creed," the players said in a statement.

 

"This symbol is a sign of unity from all players, all staff, all clubs, all match officials and the Premier League #blacklivesmatter #playerstogether."

 

The tribute comes amid worldwide protests against racial injustice following the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25.

 

Several Premier League clubs in recent weeks have posed taking a knee, like former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick who popularised the gesture as a way to protest racial issues.

 

The Premier League said it would support players taking a knee, and the BLM on shirts initiative.

 

"The League supports the players’ wish to have their names replaced by Black Lives Matter on the back of their shirts for the first 12 matches of the restarted 2019/20 season," the Premier League said.

 

"A Black Lives Matter logo will also feature on shirts for the remainder of the season, along with a badge thanking the NHS for their work during the COVID-19 crisis.

 

"In addition, the League will support players who ‘take a knee’ before or during matches."

 

Clubs will also respect one minute's silence for those who have died during the COVID-19 pandemic and kits will include a heart-shaped badge in honour of NHS and frontline staff during the crisis.

 

The Premier League will resume on June 17 after a three-month stoppage due to the outbreak, which has caused over 41,000 deaths in the United Kingdom.

 

(Reporting by Julien Pretot and Arvind Sriram in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-13

 

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Just how far is this going to go.

what happened shouldn’t have happened but it’s all getting a bit out of hand.

A bit like the #Me too movement.

 

How about wearing an ‘Expat Lives Matter’ t shirt when you go to renew your visa!

empty platitude. 

6 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

"A Black Lives Matter logo will also feature on shirts for the remainder of the season, along with a badge thanking the NHS for their work during the COVID-19 crisis.

They are sports shirts , they shouldnt be used to promote political causes  

Over the top virtue signalling. 

Madness !

To start hiding statues of people like Winston Churchill for what is kind of reverse madness. Where would we be without people like him.

Just think of the revenue the club's will generate with the new shirts...

 

Sound business decision......

 

 

I'm not a racist but I could become one if this nonsense doesn't stop.

Ridiculous. If they wanted to put something 'profound' on their idiot backs, it should be "All LIves Matter" 

1 hour ago, OneeyedJohn said:

To start hiding statues of people like Winston Churchill for what is kind of reverse madness. Where would we be without people like him.

German 

Well, there were all those online attacks on Pogba last year. There was that physical attack on the young Man U black employee beaten up a few months ago. Then there's all the "monkey gestures", and black players getting hit by water bottles. You guys do have an awful lot of black guys in your league. I'd say you guys could use this.

 

In much the same way, our NFL in America sure needed it when Colin Kaepernick decided to take his knee, only to be followed by all the anger and indifference thrown his way, to the effect of "Come on, just get up and play. We don't care about your problems. Keep on bashing into each other, and getting bashed off the field. Aren't we paying you enough?" Modern day gladiators, and perhaps something else.

Go to Africa and tell some of their despot leaders that .

2 hours ago, CorpusChristie said:

They are sports shirts , they shouldnt be used to promote political causes  

Human rights is not political.

Thread locked. This is the football forum. Politcal views can be aired elsewhere.