#BlackLivesMatter

The Indian-origin Chief Executive Officer of search engine giant Google, and its parent company, Alphabet, Sundar Pichai, has come out in support of the African-American community in the United States.

“Today on US Google & YouTube homepages we share our support for racial equality in solidarity with the Black community and in memory of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery & others who don’t have a voice. For those feeling grief, anger, sadness & fear, you are not alone,” he tweeted on May 31.

In his tweet, Pichai also unveiled a black ribbon which will appear on Google and YouTube [owned by Google] home pages, which he said, represents his company’s “support for racial equality”.

For details on what led to Pichai coming out with such support, please read the RNZ story here George Floyd death: US cities order curfews amid widespread clashes

FIFA comes out in support of #BlackLivesMatter

FIFA fully understands the depth of sentiment and concerns expressed by many footballers in light of the tragic circumstances of the George Floyd case. FIFA had repeatedly expressed itself to be resolutely against racism and discrimination of any kind and recently strengthened its own disciplinary rules with a view to helping to eradicate such behaviour.

FIFA itself has promoted many anti-racism campaigns which frequently carry the anti-racism message at matches organised under its own auspices. The application of the Laws of the Game approved by the IFAB is left for the competitions organisers which should use common sense and have in consideration the context surrounding the events.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino adds: “For the avoidance of doubt, in a FIFA competition the recent demonstrations of players in Bundesliga matches would deserve an applause and not a punishment. “We all must say no to racism and any form of discrimination.” “We all must say no to violence. Any form of violence.”

#stopracism #stopdiscrimination #stopviolence