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English FA to show understandi...

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English FA to show understanding around racism protests


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The English FA will not look to discipline any player that takes a public stand against racism once the Premier League returns on June 17th.

Chelsea and Newcastle United were the latest clubs to 'take a knee' in training in solidarity with the protest movement that has emerged following the killing of black citizen George Floyd in police custody in Minnesota.

Jadon Sancho (pictured) revealed a t-shirt that read 'justice for George Floyd' while lining out in the Bundesliga at the weekend.

His actions and the taking a knee by Borussia Monchengladbach's Marcus Thuram after he scored against Union Berlin have prompted an investigation by the German FA.

Their vice president Rainer Koch said:

"According to the DFB constitution, the control body's task is to ensure that the DFB's constitution and regulations are adhered to and to examine the circumstances surrounding violations.

"This is now happening as a result of this weekend's actions. Part of these examinations is to ascertain whether during matches and on the pitch are the right place for these actions.

"As is the case internationally, the game itself should remain free of political statements or messages of any kind; the fair and competitive action on the pitch should be the focus.

'There are of course opportunities before and after the match for these kinds of things. We'll have to wait and see whether sanctions are required in these instances."

However, FIFA and UEFA have come out in support of the player protests.

FIFA President Gianni 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."

And UEFA supremo Alexander Ceferin added:

"Football is a sport which encourages tolerance, inclusion and justice. These are the same values being espoused by those showing solidarity to George Floyd.

"If a player in our competitions were to display a message or act symbolically to ask for equality for human beings the circumstances around the event should be taken into account in line with UEFA’s zero tolerance against racism."


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