Premier League stars continue to show solidarity with Black Lives Matter movement as Tottenham, Manchester United, Norwich and Southampton players kneel before kick off as football unites against racism
- Tottenham and Manchester United players all took a knee before kick-off
- This followed the same action that was taken by Norwich and Southampton
- The gesture was taken in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement
- Clubs have united against racism following the Premier League’s return
Tottenham and Manchester United followed Norwich and Southampton in showing their support for the Black Lives Matter movement by taking the knee on Friday evening.
Players from the Premier League have united against racism following football’s return with Aston Villa, Sheffield United, Manchester City and Arsenal set the example on Wednesday.
Referees Kevin Friend and Jonathan Moss as well as clubs’ staff joined the players in taking part in the powerful gesture.
Tottenham and Manchester United took a knee before kick-off in support of Black Lives Matter
The players kneeled for ten seconds as club staff and referee Kevin Friend also took part
Norwich and Southampton had carried out the gesture in the earlier kick-off on Friday
Every fixture has witnessed the powerful image since the top flight returned to action
The words ‘Black Lives Matter’ can be seen on the back of each shirt in replace of the usual player names, a gesture which every Premier League club will be undertaking for the remaining fixtures this season.
Players have been taking the knee following the killing of George Floyd in the United States which has sparked worldwide anti-racism protests.
Players have also been warming up in Black Lives Matter t-shirts ahead of matches.
Players have also been warming up in Black Lives Matter t-shirts ahead of league matches
David de Gea sported a ‘United Against Racism’ t-shirt prior to Manchester United’s kick-off
Aston Villa and Sheffield United became the first Premier League clubs to take the action
Villa’s home game with the Blades was the first match to see players kneel before kick-off and it was revealed Sheffield striker David McGoldrick and his captain proposed the idea to opposition goalkeeper Tom Heaton.
City and Arsenal followed suit in the later game.
England striker Raheem Sterling was one of the players to repeat the action at the Etihad.
‘I see it as a massive step for the Premier League to allow something to happen,’ he said afterwards.
‘It shows we’re going in the right direction. Little by little we’re seeing change, and I think that’s what black players and most of the rest of the country are hoping for.’
Manchester City and Arsenal repeated the gesture in Wednesday’s second league fixture
