Premier League
The Premier League, often referred to outside England as the English Premier League or the EPL, is the top level of the English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Football League (EFL). Seasons run from August to May with each team playing 38 matches (playing all 19 other teams both home and away). Most games are played on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.[1]
'Black Lives Matter' Logo
The 'Black Lives Matter' logo appeared on kits for all the games following the Covid-19 break. The BLM slogan was adopted during the restarted 2019-20 campaign over the summer, following on from global protests in support of the movement sparked by the death of George Floyd in the United States while in police custody in May 2020.[2] The Premier League says it will support players who 'take a knee' at matches to highlight racial injustice.
The Premier League has shown its solidarity, with players' names replaced on the back of their shirts with 'Black Lives Matter' for the first 12 matches of the restarted season, and a Black Lives Matter badge will feature on all shirts for the rest of the campaign. In its statement, the Premier League said it stood alongside players, club and a wide range of football organisations who had "come together in recent weeks to reject racism and to show support for the message that black lives matter".[3]
The Premier League says its Black Lives Matter campaign is to send the message that it is unacceptable to treat black people differently to anyone else - and not an endorsement of a political movement.
'No Room For Racism' Campaign
Premier League players and officials will wear a 'No Room For Racism' badge on their shirts for the 2021/22 season, replacing the 'Black Lives Matter' logo. This new campaign was launched days after several English footballers were subjected to racist abuse in a Euro 2020 qualifier in Bulgaria.
"Discrimination in any form, anywhere is wholly unacceptable and 'No Room For Racism' makes our zero-tolerance stance clear. We'll not stand still on this important issue and we'll continue to work with our clubs, players and partners to address all prejudiced behaviour." Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said in a statement.[4]
Through No Room For Racism, the Premier League and its clubs work with fans, the FA, EFL, PFA, Kick It Out and the police to tackle racism on and off the pitch, promoting equality, diversity and inclusion across all areas of football.[5] This campaign emphasising that racist conduct is not tolerated, and urging supporters to take action – ‘If you see it, report it’. The video says that while there is room for passion, rivalry, drama, agony, ecstasy and every kind of emotion, there is no room for racism. At least one player from each premier league club is featured.[6]
The campaign has been running since 2019 and as part of the initiative, Premier League players Tyrone Mings, Michail Antonio, César Azpilicueta, Conor Coady, Ben Mee and Kalvin Phillips feature in campaign video, which calls on supporters to 'Challenge it, report it, change it.' It isn't just the video, the Premier League is also putting out educational resources to schools. It's hoped that these materials will be used to help kids start a discussion about race and racism. It will be available through the Premier League Primary Stars to more than 18,000 primary schools.[7]
The idea is to help encourage fans to stand up and report racism, not let it go unchallenged.
References
- ↑ Premier League. Retrieved on January 1, 2021.
- ↑ Gardner, Jamie (2020). Premier League drops Black Lives Matter slogan from players' shirts ahead of 2020-21 season amid criticism of movement's UK branch. Retrieved on January 1, 2021.
- ↑ Premier League: Black Lives Matter campaign 'not endorsement of political movement'. Retrieved on January 1, 2020.
- ↑ Walker-Roberts, James (2020). 'No Room For Racism' to replace 'Black Lives Matter' in Premier League'. Retrieved on January 1, 2021.
- ↑ Premier League. No room for racism. Retrieved on January 1, 2020.
- ↑ Hickman, Arvind (2019). Premier League campaign reinforces there is 'No Room For Racism. Retrieved on January 1, 2020.
- ↑ BBC (2020). 'We all have a duty' Premier League No Room For Racism campaign. Retrieved on January 1, 2021.