A history of footballers fighting for social justice

Footballers have a platform that few others have

As America continues to reel from the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police last week, and the subsequent protests and riots which have spread around the country, a number of sporting figures have shown their support for the civil rights movement. American athletes like LeBron James and Serena Williams have lent their support, while a number of Premier League clubs have taken to social media to show theirs. The most high-profile European football league currently playing is the German Bundesliga, and this past weekend saw players Achraf Hakimi, Jadon Sancho, Weston McKennie and Marcus Thuram each use their platforms to call for justice for George Floyd. While footballers are not necessarily known for using this platform for social justice, it is not uncommon. From Socrates to Raheem Sterling, here is a history of footballers using their unique position to raise awareness of important issues. https://twitter.com/FootballJOE/status/1267535460244520963?s=20