June 3 – FIFA President Gianni Infantino has come out in support of the Bundesliga players who added their voices at the weekend to protest against the death of George Floyd in the United States.
England international Jadon Sancho was booked after celebrating the first goal in a second-half hat-trick for Borussia Dortmund by revealing a ‘Justice for George Floyd’ T-shirt.
Borussia Moenchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram took a knee in tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement and Schalke’s US midfielder Weston McKennie sported an armband bearing the words ‘Justice for George’ during his side’s home defeat to Werder Bremen.
Although the laws ban political symbols and messages being displayed by players, Infantino says the players concerned should be praised for taking a stand.
Adding his own comments to FIFA’s statement calling for “common sense” when considering whether to sanction players who show solidarity, Infantino said: “For the avoidance of doubt, in a FIFA competition the recent demonstrations of players in Bundesliga matches would deserve an applause and not a punishment.
“We all must say no to racism and any form of discrimination. We all must say no to violence. Any form of violence.”
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