Today, the Premier League returned — in an empty stadium with no fans –with a gesture in favor of the “Black Lives Matter” movement. Before the match between the Aston Villa and Sheffield United, players took a knee in unison as a symbol of the fight against racism. Wednesday’s two games marked the return of English football.
“The Premier League will be returning and the world will be watching,” stated Britain’s Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden in a report. “This is hugely symbolic. It’s a boost for our football-loving nation. We need fans to play their part too, watching from home. To keep the home advantage, support from home.”
The English Premier League was reactivated after more than 100 days of unemployment due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and it did so with a gesture in favor of the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement. The players from both teams weren’t the only ones to kneel at the beginning of the game. Refereeing officials and coaching members also took a knee. Arsenal and Manchester City players — which was the more anticipated game — had its players and coaches kneeling, too.
Furthermore, players from both Aston Villa and Sheffield Union, were sporting the anti-racist slogan ‘Black Lives Matter’ on their jerseys, rather than player names, as usual.
The gesture of kneeling is being done in support of the protests following the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many more black lives taken by police officers. In fact, as the restart of the league continues, kneeling before the game will continue to happen for the first 12 games back.
This wave of solidarity that unleashed after the death of Floyd is not only noted in the street protest but now is also noted in professional sports.
Players and coaches from all four teams today also held a moment of silence for all the individuals who have died from the coronavirus pandemic.
