Premier League
PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS MAY DISPLAY ‘BLACK LIVES MATTER’ INSTEAD OF PLAYERS’ NAMES ON BACK OF SHIRTS
Premier League clubs are reportedly considering replacing players’ names on the back of shirts with Black Lives Matter messaging for the first round of games next week.
Protests around the world at the death of George Floyd in America over two weeks ago have resulted in the publicity of the Black Lives Matter movement, with football clubs globally speaking out against racial inequality and police brutality.
With the Premier League returning on June 17, the league is considering the move on the back of shirts as well as a Black Lives Matter badge displayed on the front of the matchday shirts, alongside an NHS badge, according to The Athletic.
Daily Mail in UK revealed on Wednesday that Premier League clubs were considering giving a nod to Black Lives Matter on their shirts when football resumes.
The League asked players for their thoughts on how to show solidarity with the global anti-racism movement in the wake of the death of Floyd.
It has been reported that taking a knee during the playing of the Premier League anthem has been discussed but there have been a number of suggestions.
Crystal Palace defender Patrick Van Aanholt has come out in support of taking a knee, saying: ‘I’m prepared to do it, 100 per cent. I think we have a platform and it’s important.’
On Wednesday, Arsenal players took a knee and warmed up with ‘I can’t breathe’ and ‘Black Lives Matter’ shirts ahead of their 3-2 defeat against Championship side Brentford in a behind closed doors friendly.
Players were pictured warming up in shirts that read ‘Black Lives Matter’, ‘I Can’t Breathe’ and ‘Colour is not a crime’ before their game at the Emirates Stadium.
Sport stars across the globe have been using their platform to showcase their support and solidarity with the worldwide campaigning.
Discussions between all 20 clubs took place on Thursday as the Premier League cleared its final hurdle for Project Restart, regarding matchday health and safety protocols.
The vote at Thursday’s shareholders meeting produced a unanimous result, with measures such as 300 people – made up of players, staff, medics, media, doping official and scouts – allowed inside stadiums agreed on.
In addition, minute’s silence set to be held before games when football returns next week, in honour of the NHS workers in the fight against coronavirus.
Thomas Partey, who formerly played for English Premier League soccer club Arsenal, has been charged with rape and sexual assault, London’s Metropolitan Police said on Friday.
Partey, a Ghana international, was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with the charges relating to three women and the offences reported to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, the statement said.
Partey’s management did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
He is due to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Aug. 5.
Partey, 32, was signed by Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for 50 million euros ($59 million) in October 2020 and became a key member of Arsenal’s first team.
He was first arrested in July 2022, though he was not named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing.
-Reuters
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Five players including England forward Marcus Rashford and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho have informed Manchester United that they wish to explore a future away from the Premier League side, a club source said on Friday.
Brazilian midfielder Antony, Dutch defender Tyrell Malacia and England international Jadon Sancho are also looking to leave the club, the source added.
Rashford, who has made more than 400 senior appearances for United, has fallen out of favour with manager Ruben Amorim, played for Aston Villa on loan while United had their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing 15th in the standings.
Amorim had called Rashford’s work rate into question, saying he would rather put a goalkeeper coach on the bench than a player not giving their all.
Rashford said he was feeling fitter and better since joining Villa, where he scored two goals in 10 league appearances.
United also failed to qualify for the Champions League as they lost the Europa League final 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur. Garnacho, who was a late substitute in the final, voiced his displeasure on social media after the loss.
“Up until the final, I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don’t know,” he wrote in a post . “The final will influence (my decision), but the whole season, the situation of the club.”
Sancho was on loan at Chelsea, where he made 31 league appearances last season. Antony, who joined United from Ajax Amsterdam in 2022 for a reported initial transfer fee of more than $100 million, scored five goals in 17 LaLiga appearances on loan at Real Betis.
Malacia joined Dutch side PSV Eindhoven on loan in February.
-Reuters
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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes turned down the opportunity to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in order to keep playing “at the highest level”, he said on Tuesday.
The Portuguese midfielder admitted that he had considered the move, which media reports said was worth four times his current salary, after being contacted by Al-Hilal’s president.
“There was that possibility, the president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it,” Fernandes, who is preparing to face Germany with Portugal, told reporters on Tuesday.
“It was a big offer, very ambitious. There was a waiting period for me to think about the future.”
Fernandes ultimately decided to stay at United and said he was motivated by his desire to continue playing at the top level and encouraged by his family and the club’s coach Ruben Amorim.
“I would be willing to do it if Manchester United thought so,” Fernandes added. “I spoke to the coach Ruben Amorim who really tried to talk me out of it. The club said they would not be willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave.
“I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career.
“It would have been easy to move there but I want to keep myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions and I feel capable of it. I am happy with my decision.”
The 30-year-old Fernandes scored 19 goals and provided 19 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions for United last season, winning the club’s Player of the Year award for the fourth time.
However, it was a season to forget for the team, as they finished 15th in the Premier League, their lowest league finish in half a century, and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
-Reuters
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