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- Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang takes a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement before the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Wednesday, June 17, 2020. The English Premier League resumes Wednesday after its three-month suspension because of the coronavirus outbreak. (Laurence Griffiths/Pool via AP)
- MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal takes knee in support of Black Live Matter before the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on June 17, 2020 in Manchester, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
- BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Billy Sharp of Sheffield United, along with his teammates and opposition, 'Take a Knee' in support of the Black Lives Matter movement after the whistle to kick off the match is blown during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Villa Park on June 17, 2020 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
- BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Billy Sharp of Sheffield United, along with his teammates and opposition, 'Take a Knee' in support of the Black Lives Matter movement after the whistle to kick off the match is blown during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Villa Park on June 17, 2020 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
- Manchester City's Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (C) and Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (R) take a knee ahead of the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on June 17, 2020. - The Premier League makes its eagerly anticipated return today after 100 days in lockdown but behind closed doors due to coronavirus restrictions. (Photo by PETER POWELL / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PETER POWELL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
- MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Arsenal's Eddie Nketiah 'takes a knee' before the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on June 17, 2020 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
- Sheffield United's Irish defender Enda Stevens kneels during a minute of silence prior to the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on June 17, 2020. - The Premier League makes its eagerly anticipated return today after 100 days in lockdown but behind closed doors due to coronavirus restrictions. (Photo by CARL RECINE / various sources / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by CARL RECINE/AFP via Getty Images)
- Players kneel during a minute of silence prior to the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on June 17, 2020. - The Premier League makes its eagerly anticipated return today after 100 days in lockdown but behind closed doors due to coronavirus restrictions. (Photo by CARL RECINE / various sources / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by CARL RECINE/AFP via Getty Images)
- MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal takes knee in support of Black Live Matter before the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on June 17, 2020 in Manchester, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
- BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Both teams and match officials take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Villa Park on June 17, 2020 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
- BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Keinan Davis of Aston Villa and John Lundstram of Sheffield United take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement prior to the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Villa Park on June 17, 2020 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
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VIDEO SHOWS: ARSENAL, MANCHESTER CITY, ASTON VILLA AND SHEFFIELD UNITED PLAYERS TAKING A KNEE AS PART OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT
SHOWS:
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK (JUNE 17, 2020) (PREMIER LEAGUE / PREMIER LEAGUE PRODUCTIONS - A MAXIMUM USE OF TWO MINUTES. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO USE AFTER 1900GMT ON JUNE 20, 2020)
1. ARSENAL CAPTAIN, PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (NUMBER 14), WALKING ONTO PITCH WITH SQUAD, "BLACK LIVES MATTER" SEEN WRITTEN ACROSS THE BACK OF THEIR SHIRTS
2. MANCHESTER CITY WINGER, RAHEEM STERLING (7) WALKING ONTO PITCH
3. STERLING ON PITCH
4. MANCHESTER CITY MIDFIELDER, KEVIN DE BRUYNE ON PITCH WITH "BLACK LIVES MATTER" ON THEIR SHIRT
5. MANCHESTER CITY SQUAD / STERLING
6. VIDEO MESSAGE IN SUPPORT OF BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT SHOWN ON JUMBO SCREEN
7. PLAYERS AND REFEREE TAKING A KNEE ON PITCH
8. STERLING ON PITCH
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 17, 2020) (PREMIER LEAGUE / PREMIER LEAGUE PRODUCTIONS - A MAXIMUM USE OF TWO MINUTES. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO USE AFTER 1900GMT ON JUNE 20, 2020)
9. SHEFFIELD UNITED PLAYERS WALKING OUT ON TO PITCH AT VILLA PARK, OLIVER NORWOOD (NUMBER 16) AND GEORGE BALDOCK (NUMBER 2) AT THE BACK GROUP AND ON THEIR SHIRTS YOU CAN SEE THE SLOGAN "BLACK LIVES MATTER"
10. BANNER IN EMPTY STAND, READING: "BLACK LIVES MATTER"
11. REFEREE BLOWING WHISTLE AND HE ALONG WITH PLAYERS TAKE A KNEE AS PART OF THE "BLACK LIVES MATTER" CAMPAIGN
12. ASTON VILLA DEFENDER, TYRONE MINGS, TAKING A KNEE
13. PLAYERS ON PITCH BEFORE KICKOFF
STORY: Premier League players, including champions Manchester City, took a knee before kickoff in support of the "Black Lives Matter" movement as the English season restarted on Wednesday (June 17).
The league returned after a 100-day hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the teams and match officials sent out a strong statement of support for the worldwide protests against racism.
All of the players also had "Black Lives Matter" on the back of their shirts instead of their names which will be a feature for the first 12 matches of the restart.
(Production: Tim Hart)
- In the first two games since Premier League soccer was suspended during the coronavirus lockdown, players, clubs and officials honored Black Lives Matter.
- In the first two games since Premier League soccer was suspended during the coronavirus lockdown, players, clubs and officials honored Black Lives Matter.
- BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Jack Grealish of Aston Villa turns with the ball under pressure form Oliver McBurnie of Sheffield United during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Villa Park on June 17, 2020 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
- BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Jack Grealish of Aston Villa runs with the ballduring the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Villa Park on June 17, 2020 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
- MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang takes a knee before the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on June 17, 2020 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
- BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Chris Basham of Sheffield United is challenged by Matt Targett of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Villa Park on June 17, 2020 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
- BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: John McGinn of Aston Villa battles for possession with Jack Robinson of Sheffield United during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Villa Park on June 17, 2020 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
- MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Dani Ceballos of Arsenal is challenged by Kevin de Bruyne of Man City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on June 17, 2020 in Manchester, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
- MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Matteo Guendouzi of Arsenal chats to Arsenal Head Coach Mikel Arteta during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on June 17, 2020 in Manchester, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
- BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Oli McBurnie of Sheffield United confronts referee Michael Oliver after he fails to award Sheffield United a goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Villa Park on June 17, 2020 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
- BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: A detailed view of the Nike Merlin Premier League match ball during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Villa Park on June 17, 2020 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
- BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: A member of Aston Villa staff looks on during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Villa Park on June 17, 2020 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
- MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: General view inside the stadium during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on June 17, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
- MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson collides with team mate Eric Garcia during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on June 17, 2020 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
- MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City celebrates with teammates Raheem Sterling and David Silva after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on June 17, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
- MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: TV pundit Jamie Carragher prepares to present pitch side after the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on June 17, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dave Thompson/ Pool via Getty Images)
- MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Phil Foden of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on June 17, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Peter Powell/Pool via Getty Images)
- Medics in full PPE (personal protective equipment) carry Manchester City's Spanish defender Eric Garcia off the pitch injured during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on June 17, 2020. - The Premier League makes its eagerly anticipated return today after 100 days in lockdown but behind closed doors due to coronavirus restrictions. (Photo by Dave Thompson / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by DAVE THOMPSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
- MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: General view outside the stadium during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on June 17, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
- MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Eric Garcia of Manchester City receives medical treatment during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on June 17, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Peter Powell/Pool via Getty Images)
- MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal and Benjamin Mendy of Manchester City react during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on June 17, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dave Thompson/ Pool via Getty Images)
- Manchester City's Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero walks in the empty stands during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on June 17, 2020. - The Premier League makes its eagerly anticipated return today after 100 days in lockdown but behind closed doors due to coronavirus restrictions. (Photo by LAURENCE GRIFFITHS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
- MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal has a drink during the drinks break during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on June 17, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dave Thompson/ Pool via Getty Images)