The Premier League announced last week that it supports the wishes of players to kneel in protest of police brutality and racial prejudice. The league also gave the green light for teams to wear "Black Lives Matter" on their uniforms when the league returns this week.
"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 color or creed. This symbol is a sign of unity from all players, all staff, all clubs, all match officials and the Premier League," the players said in a statement.
The player name on the back of the jersey will be swapped out for "Black Lives Matter" for the first 12 matches of the restart of the season. It's unclear if all players will do it or if it will be an option for players to choose if they feel inclined. In addition to the back-of-the-jersey tribute, the Premier League teams will wear a Black Lives Matter badge and a badge thanking the NHS (United Kingdom's National Health Service) on the shirts for the remainder of the season.
This comes after protests continue to appear all over the world after George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer late last month after the officer put his knee on Floyd's neck for over eight minutes. The officer, Derek Chauvin, has since been arrested and charged.
Action resumes on Wednesday with Aston Villa facing Sheffield United and Manchester City taking on Arsenal.
Players in the Bundesliga showed their support for Floyd over the last few weeks, including American Weston McKennie and English star Jardon Sancho. German club Eintracht Frankurt wore #BlackLivesMatter on the front of their jerseys on Wednesday in the DFB-Pokal match against Bayern Munich.
