Player names to be replaced by 'Black Lives Matter' in Premier League's opening round

The English Premier League players are set to pay tribute to the worldwide anti-racism movements by replacing their surnames on the back of the shirts with the words “Black Lives Matter” during the opening round of fixtures of the British top-flight’s restart.

Apart from the words “Black Lives Matter”, the BLM logo will be printed on the front. The tribute by the Premier League players comes as the worldwide protests against racial injustice continue following the killing of an unarmed African-American man George Floyd under police custody, by a policeman, in Minneapolis on May 25.

Many Premier League clubs have taken a knee before the start of the training with photographs viral on social media. Players like Raheem Sterling, Antonio Rudiger among many others have been pretty vocal about racial discrimination while suffering the same on the field during high-profile matches.

Clubs will further respect one minute’s silece for those who have lost their lives during COVID-19 pandemic and the jerseys will have a heart-shaped badge in honour of NHS and frontline staff during crisis.

The league is set to resume on June 17 after a three-month prolonged break due to the pandemic.

Manchester City will take on Arsenal whereas Sheffield United play Aston Villa in what will be the two matches of the remaining round before others take to the field across the weekend in Premier League.