#BlackOutTuesday in world of sport CHELSEA, BIG THREE OF MEN’S TENNIS SHOW SUPPORT
It was #BlackOutTuesday in the world of sport too as protests boiled over at the death of George Floyd, who became the latest victim of the scourge of racism in the society.
From the ‘Big Three’ of men’s tennis to the Chelsea football team’s training session, the condemnation of over the death of unarmed Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25 rang out loud and clear.
Men’s world No. 1 Novak Djokovic posted black screenshots on his Twitter and Instagram pages with the message “Black Lives Matter”, and was joined by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Grand Slam winners Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova and Stan Wawrinka were among other players who signalled their support for the campaign.
African-American teenage phenomenon Coco Gauff and Japan’s Naomi Osaka have also expressed their anger over Floyd’s death.
Replying to Federer’s Instagram post, the 16-year-old Coco Gauff commented: “Click the link in my bio to get resources on HOW YOU CAN HELP! THANK YOU.”
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) posted a black screen shot as well as a statement against racism on its social media handles.
In Premiership, a day after Liverpool posted group photo of their team in kneeldown salutes, Chelsea players followed suit on Tuesday to show support for the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement ahead of their training session. “Before training at Cobham this morning, the Chelsea players and coaching staff formed the letter H, for humans, and knelt in a show of support for the Black Lives Matter movement,” the club said in a statement,” the statement added.
Deserve applause
Fifa President Gianni Infantino has said that the recent demonstrations of players in Bundesliga matches, showing solidarity with Floyd, deserve “applause and not a punishment”. “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,” Infantino said in a statement.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), meanwhile, said they respected athletes’ rights to express their feelings, an IOC spokesperson said.
“The IOC fully respects that many athletes have made statements on social media and in the media. This is their individual right, and this is a right that we fully support,” an IOC spokesperson said.
IOC fully respects that many athletes have made statements on social media and in the media. This is their individual right, and this is a right that we fully support.”
IOC spokesman