UEFA has announced that when Europe's elite teams return to the pitch this week the jerseys of every player will have the words "Thank you" written on them. The purpose of this move is to highlight and thank COVID-19 frontline workers. Each team will have the chance to write out the words in the language of their choice.
When UEFA competitions return this week, the shirt of every player will carry two important words - 'Thank You'.
This #ThankYou is a symbol of European football’s recognition of key workers on the front lines of the #COVID19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/0dislOsL5s— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 3, 2020
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said, “We must not forget the people whose dedication and personal sacrifices have given us the opportunity to start playing again.”
Along with this, there will be special TV spots where men’s and women’s players will be able to express their gratitude in person during the Champions Leagues. A one-minute moment of silence will be held pre-kickoff to honor those that lost their lives to the pandemic.
The tournament was suspended back on March 11, 2020, due to COVID-19 restrictions. The planned restart date is Friday, August 7, 2020. This new schedule will be used to conclude the 2019-20 season. Flip back and forth between the first return matches at 3:00 p.m. EST, featuring Juventus vs. Lyon and Manchester City vs. Real Madrid.
