BERN — World soccer's governing body FIFA has asked competition organisers to use "common sense" with players who show messages of protest over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed in police custody in the United States. The move, which marks a change from a previous strong line against players displaying messages on the field, came as athletes and sports figures around the world made their views on the situation in the United States clear. FIFA regulations bar players from displaying any "political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images" on their kit. Since 2014, this ban has included undershirts - a response to players lifting up their shirts to display a message after scoring a goal. But several players protested during matches in Germany's Bundesliga at the weekend, with Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho and Achraf Hakimi displaying undershirts with the message, "Justice for George Floyd" on Sunday.

Source: International New York Times June 02, 2020 12:23 UTC