Players, staff and officials all dropped to one knee in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement at the start of the Premier League’s return this evening.
As the whistle blew to mark the return of the Premier League after a 100-day absence, Aston Villa and Sheffield United players, along with staff and officials, all saluted the movement, following protests across Britain following the death of George Floyd in police custody in the US last month.
Players wore shirts with Black Lives Matter written on the back, instead of their own names, as they prepared to play 90 minutes in front of a near-empty Villa Park stadium in Birmingham.
The salute came after a minute’s silence was held in stadium to pay respects to the victims of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As football finally made its return amid the coronavirus pandemic, players of Aston Villa and Sheffield United took the knee
Every playing member, plus the referee and matchday officials, kneeled on the turf in the moments before kick-off
Players came together to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, in the wake of the killing of George Floyd
Names on the back of shirts were also replaced with Black Lives Matter, as football threw itself behind the movement
Since football’s absence due to the coronavirus crisis, protests broke out in the US, spreading over to the UK and Europe, demonstrating against racial inequalities in society.
Last week the Premier League announced Black Lives Matter would head up the back of players’ shirts for the first 12 games of the season’s return.
A Black Lives Matter logo will also feature on shirts of the rest of the season, alongside a badge thanking the NHS for their work during the Covid-19 crisis.
The Premier League said it will support any players who choose to take a knee before matches during BLM protests.
A joint statement from both clubs read: ‘Sheffield United and Aston Villa were proud to stand in solidarity with the actions of the players and coaching staff of both football clubs during the first ten seconds of tonight’s Premier League fixture, expressing our collective support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
‘In the first Premier League fixture of Project Restart both clubs hope that the act of “taking a knee” will send a strong message of unity and amplify the many messages of support from Premier League players and the wider football family.
‘The directors of both clubs, Chris Wilder, Dean Smith, Billy Sharp, Jack Grealish and the players of United and Villa are in full support of this action.
‘We believe that “taking a knee” at the start of the fixture and after the pre-match minute’s silence, allowed both clubs to pay their respects to Covid-19 victims and to show the deep gratitude we all feel for our brave and selfless front-line workers.’
Home fans watch the game on a laptop outside Villa Park in Birmingham, as social distancing rules keep fans away from stadiums
he Aston Villa bench look on during the Premier League match, spaced out among the stands in line with health guidelines
The first whistle signalled the moment fans had been waiting for, the return of Premier League after a 100 days absence
The game’s main talking point once it was underway was a disallowed goal. Villa’s keeper appeared to carry the ball over the line, but there was nothing given to Sheffield United
Villa Park stadium in Birmingham played host to the eagerly awaited return of Premier League football on Wednesday night
Tonight’s match ended goalless, with Manchester City playing Arsenal from 8.15pm.
The matches are the first return of the Premier League under Project Restart, which was created to bring football back under new social distancing rules.
Build-up to match has seen a dramatic change to when football was last played, with the players of both sides not using the traditional changing room arrangements in order to prepare for the match.
Instead, players, staff and officials were kept distanced apart in different sections of the stadium, with neither team lining up in the tunnel as is customary before a match.
Fans have opted to watch from their homes, with the match being broadcast on Sky. But some have been more creative.
Two home supports were spotted watching the game underneath a marquee outside Villa Park in Birmingham.
Villa fan Glen Bate watched from his living room with son Josh and daughter Eve as the Midlands club played out a goalless draw with Sheffield United on Wednesday evening
Some fans still headed to Villa Park in Birmingham, included a young supporter who managed to get an autograph off defender Tyrone Mings
Villa Park streamed images of fans as they watched from the comfort of their homes. Supporters are still not allowed in stadiums under Project Restart
Taking to Twitter, Prince William – the head of the FA and an Aston Villa fan – voiced his opinion on football’s return.
He wrote: ‘So good to have football back, we have all missed it! Thank you to everyone involved for your hard work in making it happen. W.’
The duke has spent much of the coronavirus lockdown with his family at their Norfolk home Anmer Hall and is likely to be watching the match at his country retreat.
His son Prince George appears to have inherited the duke’s footballing allegiance, after he was pictured supporting the Villans in a Premier League match earlier this season.
In a recent BBC documentary about men’s mental health in the world of football, William revealed the sport has become more important to him as he has got older.
‘You know it’s weird because, I’ve always loved football but I love football more now than I’ve ever loved it before and I don’t know what it is, whether it’s because I’m a parent now and I need football more in my life, I don’t know maybe it is that,’ he told the documentary.
England legend and football pundit Gary Lineker echoed the sentiments, adding: ‘Hello football. Lovely to see you, finally. Really missed you.’
As player’s took the knee the Premier League tweeted to its followers: ‘There is no #NoRoomForRacism, anywhere.’
The stands of Villa Park were draped in huge club flags, to mask the absence of supporters in the stadium
Both teams warmed up in ‘Black Lives Matter’ T-shirts, in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and the widespread movement which has since followed across the globe
Only a handful of journalists and media representatives were permitted into the stadium, and had to sit apart while adhering to social distancing measures
Staff members wearing masks took to the field to ensure the hygiene of the pitch, as football made its first comeback since the coronavirus pandemic broke out
Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish looked in high spirits as he warmed up prior to the match against Sheffield United
Football’s return to empty stadium means new measures have been put in place to create a sense of atmosphere.
Fans watching from home have been able to tune in crowd noise that’s meant to keep up with the game.
One fan wrote during the first half of the clash: ‘The crowd noise is so out of sync with the action it’s hilarious. It still makes a big difference though ngl.’
Most fans spent the first half reacting to a goal which wasn’t given in Sheffield United’s favour, after the ball appeared to cross the line.
Sheffield United’s Twitter account told followers: ‘It wasn’t working’ with a laughing emoji.
With the game goalless, fans have been critical of the Premier League’s return.
Derbyshire cricketer Flynn Hudson-Prentice wrote: ‘This lacklustre commentary to go along with the obvious lack of atmosphere is making this game tough to watch…’
Football fans could be back in stadiums in time for NEXT SEASON, says minister – as he warns them to stay away from grounds as the Premier League FINALLY kicks off again
Football fans could be back watching their teams in time for next season, the Culture Secretary said tonight as the Premier League restarted after three months in limbo.
Oliver Dowden said he hoped that ‘some’ supporters could in time be allowed in to watch games from the stands, as the top flight began again behind closed doors due to coronavirus.
Aston Villa take on Sheffield United tonight in the first game since the league was suspended in March, with runaway league leaders Liverpool expected to quickly wrap up the title.
All the remaining 92 matches must be played behind closed doors, with mass gatherings banned due to social distancing measures designed to limit the spread of the virus.
Oliver Dowden said he hoped that ‘some’ supporters could be allowed in to watch games as the top flight begins again behind closed doors due to coronavirus.
Taking the daily Downing Street press conference this evening, Mr Downden said: ‘I would really hope that by the return of the new season we might be in a position whereby some fans could start to return to stadiums.
‘And I know that would be another important part of restoring the financial position of clubs.’
But hailing the ‘hugely symbolic moment’ in the coronavirus recovery he pleaded with fans not to go to games or congregate outside the grounds.
Villa can move out of the relegation zone with a win against European-chasing Sheffield United in a game that started at 6pm, with reigning champions Man City hosting Arsenal in the second contest at 8.15pm.
An Arsenal win would mean Liverpool could lift the trophy with a win at rivals Everton on Sunday.
Fears have been raised about fans congregating but Mr Dowden said that there was ‘nothing to be gained’ from crowding outside stadiums while football matches were going on.
The Cabinet minister said he had been ‘working closely’ with police on how to deal with such incidents.
‘Police have appropriate powers and they will be able to use them as necessary,’ he said.
‘But I really hope this situation won’t arise in the first place. I really do trust the good sense of football fans up and down the country, and indeed of the British public, to know that you can watch this safely at home.
‘There is nothing to be gained from congregating outside a stadium.
‘The only thing that can happen if you congregate outside a stadium is to put at risk public health.’