FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said players “deserve an applause” and not a punishment for” showing their support for the George Floyd protests.
Infantino’s comments come just days after Jadon Sancho was booked in a Bundesliga game for taking off his football jersey to display a top which included the message ‘Justice For George Floyd’. It has also been reported Sancho could face further sanctions.
George Floyd was an unarmed black man in the U.S. who was murdered last week after a police officer pressed his knee into his neck for 8 minutes. His death has sparked outrage and protests against police brutality, injustice and racism across the world.
In a statement by FIFA, Infantino showed his support for such protests by players by saying: “For the avoidance of doubt, in a FIFA competition the recent demonstrations of players in Bundesliga matches would deserve an applause and not a punishment.
“We all must say no to racism and any form of discrimination. We all must say no to violence. Any form of violence.”
Football rules don’t allow “any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images” on their kit or equipment but the letter from FIFA also urges leagues and competitions to use “common sense and have in consideration the context surrounding the events.”