Bhandari: Footballers should “take a knee” over George Floyd death
According to Sanjay Bhandari, the Kick It Out Chair, footballers should “feel free” to protest over George Floyd’s death and “should take a knee.”
Protests have been held in the United States after George Floyd, an unarmed black man, died on 25th May after restrains from Minneapolis police.
England’s forward, Jadon Sancho was booked for unveiling a “justice for George Floyd” t-short after scoring a hat-trick for Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.
On Monday, Liverpool players took a knee around the center circle at Anfield during training. Also, Manchester United’s Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford added their voices to worldwide protests against racism.
To Bhandari- who became chair to the anti-racism body in September- players taking a knee would be a “very powerful image”.
“If they feel they want to protest, then they should. They should feel free to do that. It’s a fundamental human right to express your beliefs. My suggestion is that they should take a knee.”
“I would say that taking a knee when you score a goal and have the whole team to do it, the referee is not going to book an entire team. It’s a very powerful image and a gesture of solidarity”.
Bhandari called out for the German football authorities to apply “some common sense and context” amid any further disciplinary action against Jadon Sancho.
In a statement, Fifa wrote it “fully understands the depth of sentiment and concerns” expressed by players in light of Floyd’s death.
Football’s world governing body added competition organizers “should use common sense and have in consideration the context surrounding the events”.