Yahoo Lifestyle Bundesliga players who protested for George Floyd won't be punished
The four Bundesliga players who protested the death of George Floyd during games last weekend won’t be punished by the German Football Association (DFB) for doing so, according to DW Sports. Floyd died in police custody last week after a police officer forced his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes.
In a statement, the DFB said they will maintain their current non-punishment stance for the next few weeks in case of additional protests.
American Weston McKennie, who plays for Schalke 04 and the USMNT, wore a white armband during Saturday’s game against Werder Bremen that read “Justice for George.” McKennie also tweeted about his decision to wear the armband after the game.
Marcus Thuram, who plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach, kneeled in Floyd’s memory after scoring a goal on Sunday. Jadon Sancho took off his shirt to reveal “Justice for George Floyd” written on his undershirt after scoring a goal for Borussia Dortmund, also on Sunday. Sancho’s teammate Achraf Hakimi lifted his shirt to show the same message after scoring a goal in the 84th minute.
Sancho will not, however, have his yellow card rescinded for taking off his shirt, according to Goal’s Ronan Murphy.
The International Football Association Board prohibits “any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images,” which includes armbands, writing on a shirt, and kneeling. The DFB was investigating those players in accordance with the IFAB’s rules, but DFB president Fritz Keller said recently that he understands the actions of the players who protested.
“If people are discriminated against because of the color of their skin, it is unbearable,” Keller said, via AFP. “If they die as a result of the color of their skin, then I am deeply disturbed. The victims of racism need all of our solidarity.”
The Premier League announced on Tuesday that players who protest in memory of Floyd would also not be punished under the IFAB’s rules.
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