This archive report was first published on 17 June 2020.
On Wednesday, the Premier League resumed play after a 100-day hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first match, played behind closed doors, was between Aston Villa and Sheffield United.
Before the match, a minute's silence was observed in memory of those who have lost their lives to the virus. The players and officials then took a knee in solidarity with the global protests against racial injustice, sparked by the death of George Floyd in the United States.
As a symbol of their support, players will wear 'Black Lives Matter' on the back of their shirts for the first 12 matches of the restart.
Dean Smith, the manager of Aston Villa, had a personal connection to the pandemic. His father, Ron Smith, was a steward at Villa Park and had passed away due to COVID-19. In his honor, a steward's jacket was placed among the empty stands.
"It's a fantastic gesture from the football club," Smith said in an interview with Sky Sports. "My heart goes out to anybody who has lost someone during this period."
The match itself was crucial for both teams, with Aston Villa fighting to avoid relegation and Sheffield United aiming to qualify for European football for the first time in their history.
