Death of George Floyd: Fifa calls on national authorities to "common sense"

Despite the many gestures of some footballers in tribute to George Floyd, theoretically liable to sanctions, Fifa refuses for the moment to take a decided position. Tuesday, June 2, the body called on the organizers of competitions to show "common sense" and to take into account the "context", the day after the announcement of an investigation by the disciplinary committee in the Bundesliga.

First professional hat trick 🙏🏼. A bittersweet moment personally as there are more important things going on in the world today that we must address and help make a change. We have to come together as one & fight for justice. We are stronger together! ❤️ #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/ntOtwOySCO

Fifa "fully understands the depth of the feelings and concerns expressed by many footballers in light of the tragic circumstances of the George Floyd affair", who died in police arrest in the United States, writes the international body in a statement.

Fifa, which "repeatedly expressed its opposition to all forms of racism and discrimination" recalls that the application of the laws of the game approved by the IFAB "is left to the organizers of the competitions, who must demonstrate good behavior meaning and take into consideration the context surrounding the events. "

On Monday, after gestures by several players in the German championship over the weekend, the German Football Federation (DFB) announced that its disciplinary committee would look into these gestures of tribute to George Floyd.

German Federation considers sanctions

Commission to rule on cases of Schalke 04 players Weston McKennie and Dortmund players Jadon Sancho and Achraf Hakimi who expressed outrage by wearing an armband for the first and posting messages on T-shirts for the two others.

On the other hand, the French striker from Mönchengladbach, Marcus Thuram, who had put a knee on the ground after a goal and thus resumed a gesture popularized by the American football player Colin Kaepernick to denounce the police violence against the black population in the United States , is not affected by this procedure.

The German Federation clarified that the yellow card collected by Sancho was not collected for having unveiled a political message, but for having lifted his jersey.

Rainer Koch, vice-president of the DFB, said that it remained to be determined whether or not the players concerned deserved sanction.

"During the investigation, it will be necessary to check whether a match or a playground is the appropriate place for this type of action," he said, remarks nuanced by the president of the federation, Fritz Keller, who said to "understand" the gesture of the players.

With AFP

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