Marcus Thuram was on the scoresheet on Sunday as Borussia Monchengladbach thumped Union Berlin 4-1 to reclaim third place in the Bundesliga with five matches left.
The French striker then celebrated his goal for Monchengladbach by going down to his knees and bowing his head in a nod to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Marcus’ briliant gesture has been lauded online and it comes as activists across the world have been calling for ‘justice’ over the death of Floyd.
Floyd died in police custody this week and a video of his arrest – which has gone viral on social media showing a 44-year-old white officer, Derek Chauvin, subdued Floyd by placing his knee on his neck for a prolonged period until Floyd was rendered motionlessness.
The officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck, as Floyd pleaded “I can’t breathe”, has since been arrested and is facing murder and manslaughter charges.
Marcus’ father, Lillian Thuram, has been an anti-racism activist since his playing days at Juventus and Barcelona, and his son’s powerful gesture has since been lauded online.
On Saturday, United States midfielder Weston McKennie displayed his support for George Floyd during Schalke’s Bundesliga defeat to Werder Bremen, wearing an armband with the message “Justice for George.”
He tweeted after the game: “To be able to use my platform to bring attention to a problem that has been going on to long feels good!!!,” McKennie’s post-match tweet reads. “We have to stand up for what we believe in and I believe that it is time that we are heard! #justiceforgeorgefloyd #saynotoracism”
