In response to another death of a black person, George Floyd, in the state of Minnesota in America, the global football community has taken to social media to express their solidarity with the rising movement against the rampant racism in the USA as well as across the world.
The video where an American police officer bent his knee over the neck of Floyd, eventually choking him to death, went viral last week, leading to widespread protests across the nation.
With a rise of racism against black and Hispanic people not only in America but across many European football leagues, many clubs, footballers, as well as sports brands, have taken to Twitter to express their support for the movement.
Here are some of their reactions to the unfortunate incident:
Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford spoke in solidarity of George Floyd as well as Ahmaud Arbery, who was shot down in February.
#blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/LSEeQ61YRz
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 1, 2020
European champions Liverpool uploaded a video of their players kneeling in solidarity with Floyd and other victims of racism.
The entire squad knelt in Anfield's centre circle ahead of today's training session in a powerful show of support for the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
— Liverpool FC (at 🏠) (@LFC) June 1, 2020
Unity is strength: https://t.co/2BN18U4jIY pic.twitter.com/oVE5RgNMmh
Left-back Andrew Robertson posted a picture of the same.
Unity is strength #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/xyZ5108kOH
— Andy Robertson (@andrewrobertso5) June 1, 2020
Frenkie De Jong uploaded a picture of himself and Netherlands teammates Giorginio Wijnaldum celebrating a goal in the UEFA Euro qualifiers in their fight against racism.
✊🏻✊🏼❤️✊🏽✊🏾 #stopracism pic.twitter.com/JAt7ig4UOh
— Frenkie de Jong (@DeJongFrenkie21) May 31, 2020
Inter Milan star Ashley Young also uploaded an image encouraging his fans join the movement.
✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 pic.twitter.com/YG6MnVo9XH
— Ashley Young (@youngy18) June 1, 2020
Chelsea uploaded a photo expressing their grief at the death of George Floyd and called on their fans to stick together to fight their common enemy - racism.
— Chelsea FC (at 🏡) (@ChelseaFC) June 1, 2020
Manchester United tweeted a message posted by club captain Paul Pogba in solidarity with the movement.
💬 @PaulPogba pic.twitter.com/lM9sdlyA2T
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 1, 2020
Jadon Sancho celebrated his first professional hat-trick with a beautiful tribute to George Floyd.
First professional hat trick 🙏🏼. A bittersweet moment personally as there are more important things going on in the world today that we must address and help make a change. We have to come together as one & fight for justice. We are stronger together! ❤️ #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/ntOtwOySCO
— Jadon Sancho (@Sanchooo10) May 31, 2020
Borussia Monchengladbach winger Marcus Thuram also celebrated his double by taking a knee to show his respect.
Together is how we move forward, together is how we make a change 👊🏿 #BLACK_LIVES_MATTERS pic.twitter.com/7OJUWqTLQZ
— T I K U S 🦍 (@MarcusThuram) May 31, 2020
US international Weston McKennie, who plays for Schalke04, wore an armband that read ‘Justice for GEORGE FLOYD’ during their German Bundesliga league game against Werder Bremen.
To be able to use my platform to bring attention to a problem that has been going on to long feels good!!! We have to stand up for what we believe in and I believe that it is time that we are heard! #justiceforgeorgefloyd #saynotoracism pic.twitter.com/TRB1AGm0Qx
— Weston McKennie (@WMckennie) May 30, 2020
Just like when they supported Colin Kaepernick’s ‘take a knee’ campaign protesting against stateside police brutality against minorities, Nike were ahead of the rest again, uploading this video much before many of their rival companies began showing their support.
They received quite the support from their biggest rivals Adidas.
Together is how we move forward.
— adidas (at 🏡) (@adidas) May 30, 2020
Together is how we make change. https://t.co/U1nmvMhxB2
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lars Baron