‘We won’t tolerate this’: Paul Pogba joins call for change after death of George Floyd

‘I felt anger, pity, hatred, indignation, pain, sadness. Sadness for George and for all black people who suffer from racism’

Paul Pogba has sent a powerful anti-racism message sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Mr Floyd died last Monday after a white police officer held him down by pressing a knee into his neck and sports stars have joined in the widespread condemnation.

Manchester United midfielder Pogba took to Instagram on Monday to voice his thoughts: ‘During the past few days I have thought a lot about how to express my feelings about what happened in Minneapolis.

‘I felt anger, pity, hatred, indignation, pain, sadness. Sadness for George and for all black people who suffer from racism EVERY DAY!

‘Whether in football, at work, at school, ANYWHERE! This has to stop, once and for all! Not tomorrow or the next day, it has to end TODAY!

Pogba has joined the growing call for change (Getty)

‘Violent acts of racism can no longer be tolerated. I can’t tolerate. I won’t tolerate. WE WON’T TOLERATE. Racism is ignorance. LOVE is intelligence. STOP the silence. STOP racism. #NoToRacismWeAllOne #JusticeForFloyd #GeorgeFloyd #BlackLivesMatter.’

England forward Marcus Rashford posted a message of his own, saying: “I know you guys haven’t heard from me in a few days. I’ve been trying to process what is going on in the world.

“At a time I’ve been asking people to come together, work together and be united, we appear to me more divided than ever. People are hurting and people need answers.

“Black lives matter. Black culture matters. Black communities matter. We matter.”

Rashford has followed his England team-mate Jadon Sancho in addressing the issue after the Borussia Dortmund winger said “we shouldn’t fear speaking out for what’s right”.

‘Justice for George Floyd’ was scrawled on the T-shirt revealed by the Borussia Dortmund winger after scoring the first of what proved to be his maiden senior hat-trick in a 6-1 win over Paderborn.

Liverpool’s players, including captain Jordan Henderson and Virgil Van Dijk, tweeted messages with an image of the players taking a knee during training at Anfield.

Liverpool’s players take a knee (Liverpool FC via Getty)

Chelsea declared that they stood together with Floyd and “all victims in the fight against discrimination, brutality and injustice”.

“As a club we are committed to being a part of the solution, and we are joining our voice to all those calling for fairness, equality and meaningful change,” their statement added. “Enough is enough. Together we are stronger.”