Thierry Henry takes knee for eight minutes and 46 seconds during game in support of Black Lives Matter

Montreal Impact took on New England in their first game of the 'MLS Is Back' tournament on Thursday

Thierry Henry took a knee for eight minutes and 46 seconds at the start of a Major League Soccer game on Thursday.

Montreal Impact took on New England in their first game of the “MLS Is Back” tournament.

Henry, who also wore a T-shirt with the slogan ‘Black Lives Matter’, took a knee inside his technical area at kick-off in memory of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for the same amount of time.

“Well I sat down for eight minutes and 46 seconds, I guess you guys know why,” he said afterwards.

“So that was just to pay tribute and show support to the cause, that was basically it and pretty simple.”

The former Arsenal and France striker had called last month for urgent action to be taken to stop racism in the wake of Floyd’s death.

Impact lost 1-0 in Thursday’s game.

Henry is not the first sporting figure to use their platform to support the campaign for social justice.

Premier League players have been taking a knee prior to matches in the restarted season while Formula 1 drivers, including world champion Lewis Hamilton, did the same prior to Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix.