FIFA Reacts As Players Demand Justice For George Floyd

FIFA has reacted to football players call for justice for George Floyd, a 46-year-old black American man who was killed by a white police officer in the United States.

Naija News reports that George Floyd had died on May 25, 2020, at the hands of a White police officer in Minneapolis, who knelt on his neck for close to 8 minutes.

The death of the black American has resulted in a massive protest in the United States and the world over.

Football players also joined the call for justice for Floyd with Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Chelsea, Hector Bellerin, amongst others lending their voice.

Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho who used last weekend matches in the German Bundesliga to reveal messages expressing solidarity with Floyd was booked by the referee.

In a statement to the Associated Press on Monday, FIFA urged football competition organizers to apply ‘common sense’ and consider not sanctioning players demanding justice.

The statement read: “FIFA fully understands the depth of sentiment and concerns expressed by many footballers in light of the tragic circumstances of the George Floyd case.

“The application of the laws of the game is left for the competitions’ organizers, which should use common sense and have in consideration the context surrounding the events.

“FIFA had repeatedly expressed itself to be resolutely against racism and discrimination of any kind and recently strengthened its own disciplinary rules with a view to helping to eradicate such behaviours.”