While CAF which region is populated by Blacks has remained silent, FIFA, UEFA have both expressed their support for players who wish to protest against racism on the pitch. 

This is coming even as former US President, George Bush wrote an open letter to President Donald Trump, castigating him for his stance in the anti-racism protest that is sweeping across, not just the US, but the entire world.

George Bush in his letter to Donald Trump, Called George Floyd’s death, and subsequent harassment a “shocking failure.”

“It remains a shocking failure that many African Americans, especially young African American men, are harassed and threatened in their own country,” continued the former president.

Bush then stated that the protests are “a strength” of America, before offering criticism of those opposing them.

“Those who set out to silence those voices do not understand the meaning of America,” said the president, “or how it becomes a better place.”

“America’s greatest challenge,” Bush continued, “has long been to unite people of very different backgrounds into a single nation of justice and opportunity.

“The doctrine and habits of racial superiority, which once nearly split our country, still threaten our Union. The answers to American problems are found by living up to American ideals.”

The death of George Floyd in the United States has led to widescale protests and riots, and many players and their clubs have been keen to show they stand side-by-side with those taking a stand.

Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle were all among those teams to make a statement during training, with entire sides taking a knee – a form of protest made prevelant by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Other forms of protest have already been seen on the pitch in the Bundesliga, with England international Jadon Sancho revealing a T-shirt at the weekend under his Borussia Dortmund shirt, which read ‘Justice for George Floyd’. 

Floyd, a black man, was killed by a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, while under arrest in Minneapolis last week.

Sancho, 20, was booked by referee Daniel Seibart for removing his shirt, but football’s governing bodies have now indicated that these forms of protests should not be punished by officials.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: ‘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.’

Borussia Monchengladbach star Marcus Thuram also protested by dropping to his knee after scoring in their win against Union Berlin.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said: ‘Football is a sport which encourages tolerance, inclusion and justice. These are the same values being espoused by those showing solidarity to George Floyd. 

‘If a player in our competitions were to display a message or act symbolically to ask for equality for human beings the circumstances around the event should be taken into account in line with UEFA’s zero tolerance against racism.’ 

The statements come after the FA revealed it would look to its officials to use common sense towards any acts of protest when the Premier League and Championship return later this month. 

The German governing body, the DFB, said after the weekend matches that they did support the fight against racism but would still be looking into the actions of Sancho and Co.

DFB vice president Rainer Koch said: ‘According to the DFB constitution, the control body’s task is to ensure that the DFB’s constitution and regulations are adhered to and to examine the circumstances surrounding violations.

‘This is now happening as a result of this weekend’s actions. Part of these examinations is to ascertain whether during matches and on the pitch are the right place for these actions.

‘As is the case internationally, the game itself should remain free of political statements or messages of any kind; the fair and competitive action on the pitch should be the focus.

‘There are of course opportunities before and after the match for these kinds of things. We’ll have to wait and see whether sanctions are required in these instances.’