Subdued t shirts

MANCHESTER, England: The Premier League's chief executive, Richard Masters, said he supported the move to have the slogan 'Black Lives Matter' on player's shirts in this week's games, saying it represented an ethical stance rather than a political one. The Premier League resumes on Wednesday, and teams will have logos supporting the National Health Service on the front of their shirts and the words Black Lives Matter replacing their names above the number on their backs. "I support them in using their platforms to push good causes. The messages you are going to see coming through the Premier League matches in relation to thanking the NHS, with the 'Heart NHS' logo on the front of shirts and also the anti-discrimination messages coming forward, are issues that all players feel," Masters told Sky Sports on Tuesday. "I think it is a good thing that players are using their voices to make what I think are ethical value judgements rather than political statements. They are supposed … [Read more...] about Premier League CEO backs ‘Black Lives Matter’ on team shirts

BERLIN: Eintracht Frankfurt changed their team shirt to display "#blacklivesmatter" on the front for their German Cup semi-final at Bayern Munich on Wednesday to take a stand against racism, the club said. Athletes across the world have joined in support of protests triggered by the death of unarmed black man George Floyd in U.S. police custody last month. "Tonight: Make your mark. Black heart. Every day: Listen. Understand. Question. Stand. Speak up. Fight for tolerance and diversity. Overcome racism," Frankfurt said. The white shirt displayed the line in black letters, larger than the name of the team's sponsor. Several Bundesliga clubs and players have shown their support for the protests by going down on one knee ahead of league games in recent weeks. Major sports have also moved to allow protests following Floyd’s death on May 25, including world soccer’s ruling body FIFA and the American National Football League (NFL). (Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Ed … [Read more...] about Frankfurt players display ‘#blacklivesmatter’ on game shirts

BEIJING: China's factory activity likely grew for the fourth month June but the pace may be waning, as global demand stayed subdued while a fresh coronavirus outbreak in the Chinese capital and rising worldwide cases threaten to undermine a gradual domestic recovery. The official manufacturing Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI), due for release on Tuesday, is expected to ease to 50.4 in June, from 50.6 in May, according to the median forecast of 29 economists polled by Reuters. A reading above 50 indicates an expansion in activity. With travel bans finally lifted in April in Wuhan, the epicentre of the country's coronavirus crisis, China has largely managed to recover from strict lockdowns that had led to weeks of economic paralysis. Yet export demand has remained weak with infections steadily rising across the world. Some fear a worldwide recession might turn out to be more pronounced than expected in the event a second wave of coronavirus cases force many countries to reimpose … [Read more...] about China’s factory activity likely slowed in June on subdued global demand, Reuters poll shows

REUTERS: England players will wear training shirts bearing the names of key workers before the start of the first test against the West Indies next month to honour their service during the COVID-19 pandemic, the country's cricket board said on Monday. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said people whose names will feature on the shirts have been nominated by their local cricket clubs and include teachers, doctors, nurses, social workers and carers. The first test is scheduled to begin in Southampton on Jul 8, with the last two matches at Old Trafford, as international cricket returns following its suspension in March. "As we get back to playing the game we love, we want to take the time to honour the brave key workers who went into bat for their country under the toughest circumstances," England skipper Joe Root said in a statement. "It's only fitting that we use this series as an opportunity to 'raise a bat' in their honour. We'll wear their names with pride." The … [Read more...] about Cricket: England players to honour key workers with names on training shirts

REUTERS: The PGA Tour quietly returned to action for the first time in three months amid the COVID-19 pandemic as the world's best golfers competed at a spectator-free Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas on Thursday. Everyone in a field featuring the top five golfers in the world rankings underwent mandatory testing prior to teeing off at the Charles Schwab Challenge where the PGA Tour ended its longest unscheduled break from competition since World War Two. "Just being out here is successful, to be honest with you, getting started," said American Ryan Palmer, who hit the day's opening tee shot. "I don't see anything holding us back moving forward. I think today was the biggest day, just getting this first day off." Despite an unusually deep field that was reminiscent of a major championship as players were eager to shake off the rust of a forced shutdown, the action was subdued with no spectators to applaud the awe-inspiring shots. Englishman Justin Rose showed no … [Read more...] about PGA Tour makes subdued return, Rose sets pace at Colonial