June 3, 2020
Bern : FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the Bundesliga players who protested on the pitch about the death of George Floyd “deserve an applause and not a punishment”.
Soccer’s world governing body joined sports leagues, teams and players around the globe to express solidarity amid outrage over Floyd’s death in the United States.
The NFL, NHL and NBA put out statements about the racial injustice that sparked protests across the US, while Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton said on Tuesday he felt “completely overcome with rage,” urging people to speak out against racism and stand up for justice.
The Briton had slammed his sport on Sunday for its silence over the killing of Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in Minneapolis after a white US police officer knelt on his neck.
Derek Chauvin, the officer who planted his knee on Floyd’s neck, has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Three other officers involved have not been charged.
“This past week has been so dark, I have failed to keep hold of my emotions,” said Formula One’s first black champion in his latest social media post to millions of followers.”I have felt so much anger, sadness and disbelief in what my eyes have seen,” added the Mercedes driver.
“I am completely overcome with rage at the sight of such blatant disregard for the lives of our people. The injustice that we are seeing our brothers and sisters face all over the world time and time again is disgusting, and MUST stop.”
Hamilton, who has homes in the United States, drew support from several other F1 drivers and his team after his comments on Sunday.
Formula One also broke its silence with a statement on Twitter: “We stand with you, and all people in the fight against racism. It is an evil that no sport or society is truly immune from,” it said.
“And it is only together we can oppose it and eradicate it. Together we are stronger.”
In Germany, England and Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho was booked after lifting his match shirt to reveal a “Justice For George Floyd” message on a T-shirt underneath.
It has been reported the German Football Association (DFB) is considering disciplinary action against Sancho, as well as a couple of others, for a technical breach of the game’s laws.
“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,” Infantino said.
“We all must say no to racism and any form of discrimination. We all must say no to violence. Any form of violence.
FIFA urged governing bodies applying those laws to “use common sense and have in consideration the context surrounding the events”.
Players in England are unlikely to face any disciplinary action for taking the knee or other peaceful anti-discrimination protests if matches are able to resume this month.
On Monday, Liverpool players took a knee during training, while Manchester United’s Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford also added their voices to protests against racism.
On Tuesday, fellow EPL clubs Newcastle and Chelsea players also took a knee before their training sessions.
Similar to FIFA’s message, the Football Association said it will adopt a “common sense approach” if there are any examples of players or staff supporting the #BlackLivesMatter cause.
In the US, the loudest support has come from players, including the LA Lakers’ LeBron James, New Jersey Devils’ PK Subban, Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes and New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton.
NBA great Michael Jordan and golfer Tiger Woods, who rarely speak out on social issues, have also called for change. American former five-division world champion boxer Floyd Mayweather also offered to cover Floyd’s funeral costs.
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