PREMIER LEAGUE stars are set to wear two Black Lives Matters messages on their shirts next week.
Top-flight clubs want a BLM badge AND the NHS logo on the front.
Arsenal were one of many clubs showing their solidarity with the anti-racism campaign earlier this weekCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And it has also been agreed in principle that player names on the back of shirts will be replaced with “Black Lives Matter” for the opening 12 games of the Prem’s return.
The move comes after bosses’ latest meeting saw total agreement that the Prem must take a strong stand in support of the BLM movement.
A range of possible moves were discussed but they were unanimous that any decisions needed to be signed off by the players before ratifying.
Such a move might have put the Prem on a collision course with Fifa as it could be seen as a law breach.
Law 4 Section 5 states: “Equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images.”
But Fifa president Gianni Infantino is desperate to be on the right side of history in such times and Zurich chiefs have indicated they would be happy for the Prem to introduce the two steps.
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The Government is also ready to demand more Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic representation on the governing bodies of British sport.
A study found there are no non-white directors at any of the biggest sports — the FA, LTA, ECB, RFU, British Cycling, English Swimming and English Hockey — with only three of 139 board members from a BAME background in other sports.
Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “The time is absolutely right to review the Sports Governance Code, and set new expectations.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
