England star Jadon Sancho has unveiled a "Justice for George Floyd" message after scoring for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
In the absence of Erling Haaland and following a calf injury that has limited him to cameo appearances since the German top-flight's return from its coronavirus suspension earlier in May, the former Manchester City forward returned to Lucien Favre's starting lineup for Sunday's trip to bottom club Paderborn and marked the occasion by netting a first senior hat-trick.
After side-footing home his first goal from close range at Benteler Arena soon after Thorgan Hazard's opener, Sancho subsequently removed his Dortmund shirt to reveal a yellow BVB base layer that featured the message "Justice for George Floyd" written prominently across the front in pen.
He was then shown a yellow card by referee Daniel Siebert for removing his shirt.
Sancho's Dortmund team-mate Achraf Hakimi unveiled the same message after scoring Dortmund's fourth goal of the evening.
In Pictures | Jadon Sancho scores first career hat-trick | 31/05/2020
The death of Mr Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Monday after white police officer Derek Chauvin was filmed kneeling on his neck for almost ten minutes has sparked protests across the United States and beyond.
Chauvin has since been sacked and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Elsewhere in the Bundesliga on Sunday, Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram kneeled in the aftermath of his first goal in the 4-1 win over Union Berlin, while on Saturday American midfielder Weston McKennie took to the pitch for Schalke's match against Werder Bremen wearing an armband that read "Justice for George”.
Taking to Twitter after Dortmund's win over Paderborn, Sancho said: "First professional hat trick. A bittersweet moment personally as there are more important things going on in the world today that we must address and help make a change.
"We have to come together as one & fight for justice. We are stronger together. #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd."
