MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 14: Marcelo of Real Madrid CF kneels on the pitch to celebrate his team´s second goal celebrates during the Liga match between Real Madrid CF and SD Eibar SAD at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on June 14, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
On June 11, La Liga returned to action after its season was halted amid the coronavirus pandemic. One of the titans of the league, Real Madrid, played their first game since the season was stopped against Eibar. After one goal, one of Madrid’s players took the opportunity to acknowledge what is going on in the world.
Madrid left back Marcelo scored his squad’s third goal of the match and instead of celebrating with some crazy dance or running around the stadium, the Brazilian dropped to one knee and raised a fist in the air, acknowledging the various movements around the globe since the death of George Floyd on May 25.
Marcelo is not the first soccer player to take a stance supporting the anti-racist movements around the world, as numerous European soccer players have worn shirts that read “Black Lives Matter.” The Premier League will inscribed “Black Lives Matter” on the back of all jerseys for one week.
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