Premier League players pledge support to Black Lives Matter

Players will wear ‘Black Lives Matter’ on their shirts and will be supported if they decide to take a knee

The Premier League will support players’ wishes to wear ‘Black Lives Matter’ on the back of their shirts and take a knee in a display of solidarity when football resumes on 17 June.

Players will wear the name of the human rights movement on their shirts in the first 12 fixtures of the competition, while a Black Lives Matter logo will feature alongside an NHS logo on shirts for the remainder of the season.

A statement released on behalf of players at all 20 clubs read: “We, the players, stand together with the singular objective of eradicating racial prejudice wherever it exists, to bring about a global society of inclusion, respect, and equal opportunities for all, regardless of their colour or creed.

“This symbol is a sign of unity from all players, all staff, all clubs, all match officials and the Premier League #blacklivesmatter #playerstogether.”

During a conference call on Thursday, clubs discussed how players can use games to join growing calls to eradicate racial injustice in society following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on 25 May.

Players from several Premier League teams were pictured this week in training taking a knee as part of anti-racism gestures sparked by the death of Floyd, who died after a white police officer pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes even after he stopped moving and pleaded for air.

The laws of the game prohibit “any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images” on matchday equipment but the Football Association has said “common sense” would be applied when assessing the context of on-field messages.

That followed a new stance from Fifa adopted after players in the German Bundesliga had “Justice for George Floyd” messages on — or under — their shirts.

Additional reporting by PA