Football chiefs talk a good game on racism but it still looks like bluster | Barry Glendenning


Fifa’s and Uefa’s response to the solidarity shown by players with George Floyd needs to be more than platitudes

Talk is famously cheap and out of the mouths of international football administrators tumble platitudes that are not worth the paper they will soon be written on. While encouraging, the apparent freedom granted by Fifa to players who wish to throw their collective shoulder to the wheel of protest against the sickening death of George Floyd at the knee of a Minnesota policeman should perhaps be greeted with scepticism.

“For the avoidance of doubt, in a Fifa competition the recent demonstration of players in Bundesliga matches would deserve an applause and not a punishment,” said Gianni Infantino after on-field gestures made by the brave Bundesliga players Jadon Sancho, Achraf Hakimi, Weston McKennie and Marcus Thuram.

Related: FA unlikely to discipline players for taking a knee as Fifa urges leniency

Related: Joshua Kimmich wants white players to join black teammates' protests

Related: The NFL and Trump both reek of hypocrisy over George Floyd's death

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