Report: EPL jerseys to replace player names with 'Black Lives Matter'

Club captains throughout the Premier League have gotten their message across as they push for change ahead of the league's return next week.

In a meeting Thursday, Premier League clubs agreed to replace the names of players on the back of jerseys with the words "Black Lives Matter," according to the Guardian's Nick Ames.

Support for displaying the message was reportedly spearheaded by various team captains. "Black Lives Matter" will feature on the back of every player's jersey for at least the first round of matches after the Premier League returns to play on June 17, according to Ames.

Players and teams will also reportedly be free to kneel before matches, as the Premier League is not expected to punish those that wish to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

The opening fixtures will also include a minute's silence before each game to honor people who died due to the coronavirus, Ames reports. Heart-shaped badges recognizing NHS workers will be embroidered on Premier League uniforms as well.

Meanwhile, BBC Sport's Laura Scott reports that top-flight clubs agreed to a range of medical and operational protocols in order to go ahead with plans to resume the season, which was suspended in March due to the coronavirus.

Those protocols include the deep cleaning of corner flags, goalposts, substitution boards, and match balls before and after every one of the 92 fixtures remaining.