Mönchengladbach (Germany) (AFP)

Three black Bundesliga players paid tribute this weekend on German courts to George Floyd, the 46-year-old African American, who died after his arrest on Monday in Minneapolis.

The most spectacular gesture was that of Mönchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram, son of 1998 French world champion Lilian Thuram, who knelt down on Sunday to celebrate a goal.

Just after the match, his club posted a photo of his player, kneeling on the ground and looking down, on Twitter, with the caption in English: "No explanation needed".

This gesture had been popularized by the player of NFL (American Football League) Colin Kaepernick, become a spokesperson for the protests in the United States against police violence, in particular against the colored minorities.

Marcus Thuram, 22, is the son of Lilian Thuram, an idol of French football in the late 1990s, now active in France in the fight against racism and discrimination.

He scored twice on Sunday in his team's 4-1 victory over Union Berlin on the 29th day of the German Championship. It was after his first goal that he paid homage to George Floyd.

Shortly after, young Dortmund striker Jadon Sancho (20) displayed a t-shirt with the inscription "Justice for George Floyd", also after scoring a goal.

- "It's time" -

In the 57th minute of Dortmund's Paderborn match, Sancho scored his team's second goal and, in celebration, took off his shirt to reveal his tribute to George Floyd.

The referee sanctioned him with a yellow card for removing his jersey, in accordance with the regulations.

On Saturday, it was the American Weston McKennie of the Schalke 04 club, who wore an "Justice for George" armband.

"To be able to use this forum to draw attention to a problem that has been going on for too long, it feels good !!!", tweeted McKennie, 21, after the lost home encounter (0-1) against Werder Bremen.

"We have to stand up for what we believe in and I think it's about time we are heard! #Justiceforgeorgefloyd #saynotoracism," added the player.

A video of George Floyd's arrest, filmed by passers-by, has gone viral since Monday. It shows a white policeman in the city of Minneapolis tackle the ground George Floyd, 46, and keep his knee on his neck for long minutes, while the latter says he can no longer breathe.

His death following this arrest has led in recent days to demonstrations and riots in the city but also in the rest of the United States, even outside the White House.

The emotion crossed the American borders, and calls to make justice to George Floyd multiplied on the social networks in several countries.

Other American athletes, such as tennis player Coco Gauff, reacted to the death of Floyd. "Am I next?" she asked herself in a video on the TikTok social network.

© 2020 AFP