Five years ago this week George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis.

His inhumane death was the latest in a series of killings of black people in the United States that sparked protests across the country; protests that found an echo in shock and horror across the world.

Two months into lockdowns, economic slowdowns and the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic, the circumstances of George’s death seemed to affect us all.

The world was static but in football the German Bundesliga had become the first European league to define their Covid protocols and begin play. Keen to finish off the season, teams were back on the 16 May 2020 after a two-month break. As the player’s shouts echoed in empty and eerie stadiums, we watched on TV because there is little else that offers the release that football can.

And then Dortmund forward’s Jaden Sancho and Achraf Hakimi started something.

Sancho scored a hat-trick in the 6-1 thrashing of Paderborn, celebrating after the third by going to a camera and peeling off his shirt to reveal a hand scribbled message: ‘Justice For George Floyd’. 

A little while later Hakimi netted and revealed the same message, again written in his own hand. 

Earlier in the day, in a powerful and quietly charged gesture, Marcus Thuram had taken a knee after scoring for Borussia Moenchengladbach. 

Looking back these were electric moments, never seen before in European football. And led by young talented players of African descendancy. 

Their actions sparked a wave of solidarity across football. Sancho had been booked for removing his shirt, as had others making the same gesture after him, but the German Football Association ultimately decided not to penalize him further, recognizing the broader significance of the gesture. Informally FIFA had told them to let the situation play out without sanctions.

The next few games in the Bundesliga saw a lot of messaging on T-shirts and the taking of the knee. When the Premier League returned to play they allowed players to take the knee collectively; whole teams kneeled for a full minute before kick-off.

The kneeling gesture was inspired by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s protest against racial injustice. He paid dearly for it, effectively blacklisted by NFL clubs, but the practice became a fixture in the Premier league, symbolizing unity and a collective stand against racism. 

The momentum seemed to extend beyond symbolic gestures. Clubs and governing bodies in Europe launched initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion.

As the years have passed, the initial fervour for change has begun to wane. Many of the promises made in the wake of Floyd’s death have not materialized into lasting structural change. For instance, despite increased awareness of their role in football, the representation of Black individuals in coaching and other leadership positions remains disproportionately low. Our own research figures showed that in 2022 only 4.3% of European coaches were ethnic minorities. And only 4.1% of those holding positions on the boards of clubs and leagues were from an ethnic minority.

Former England international and coach Ricky Hill has highlighted the persistent barriers Black coaches face, describing the situation as like “hitting a brick wall.”

The environment outside football has also begun to change. Commitment to anti-racism initiatives has faced political pushback led by right-wing governments. In the United States, the initial surge in support for racial justice has been met with resistance, leading to the rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. A 2025 Pew survey revealed that most Americans believe efforts to address racial inequality have not led to meaningful change, with 67% of Black respondents doubting that racial equality can be achieved in their lifetimes. 

Despite these challenges, the legacy of George Floyd’s death continues to influence the football community. If nothing else the moment showed that players in European leagues are committed and can lead social change, they are now the generation increasingly calling for real action, urging for lasting change. 

One of those players was Vincent Kompany. The former Belgium and Manchester City captain is now Bayern Munich coach, one of only a few Black coaches across Europe. He said recently, “If you look around Europe at the highest level, there is hardly any diversity there. And if you don't have diversity … you'll never find the right solutions for the people who affect the problems.”

As we mark the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s death, it is clear that progress has been made, particularly in tackling racism from the stands, but significant work remains to undo the idea that ethnic minorities have no place as leaders off the pitch. The football world has shown its capacity to unite against injustice, and to tackle obvious forms of racism, but the journey towards true equity requires sustained commitment and systemic transformation. 

The challenge lies in translating the powerful moments of solidarity into enduring change that permeates every level of football.