No action against Bundesliga players who showed solidarity with George Floyd: DFB
Jun 04, 2020
Frankfurt [Germany], June 4 : The German Football Federation (DFB) on Wednesday announced that no action will be taken against Bundesliga players for their symbols of solidarity with George Floyd.
"The DFB's control body will take no action against Achraf Hakimi, Jadon Sancho (both of Borussia Dortmund), Weston McKennie (FC Schalke 04) and Marcus Thuram (Borussia Monchengladbach) for their symbols of solidarity with the recently deceased American George Floyd, and their anti-racist messages," DFB said in a statement.
"This line will also be taken should further players make demonstrations against racism and the death of Floyd over the course of upcoming matchdays," it added.
'Black Lives Matter' protests have intensified across the US after George Floyd, an African-American man, passed away after having a knee pressed into his neck by a police officer identified as Derek Chauvin.
Hakimi and Sancho had displayed the message 'Justice for George Floyd' on their shirts after scoring in the match against Paderborn on Sunday.
Borussia Monchengladbach forward Thuram took a knee during a goal celebration as his side beat Union Berlin while McKennie had written 'Justice for George Floyd' on his armband in Saturday's 1-0 defeat.
DFB President Fritz Keller welcomed the body's 'far-sighted decision' and said that players' actions have their respect.
"I welcome the control body's far-sighted decision and am very pleased with it. The DFB is opposed to all forms of racism, discrimination and violence, and stands for tolerance, openness and diversity - all values that are also deeply ingrained with the DFB statutes. That's why the players' actions have our respect and understanding," Keller said in a statement.
Anton Nachreiner, chairman of the DFB's control body, said in agreement with DFB President for Legal Affairs Rainer Koch, "It goes without saying that the DFB's control body always has FIFA and DFB regulations in mind. In this specific case, however, these are deliberate actions of anti-racism by the players, who are thus campaigning for the very values which the DFB seeks to uphold. So no action will be taken now, nor in the case of further anti-racism demonstrations over coming weeks."
