Kickoff in Sunday’s MLS regular-season game between FC Dallas and Nashville SC was delayed due to lightning in the area around Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Originally scheduled for 8:38 pm ET, the game kicked off a 12:07 am ET. No public address audio, music or national anthem was played ahead of the game which ended up in a 0-0 draw.
FC Dallas had declared earlier on Sunday that players would remain inside their locker rooms for the playing of the national anthem, though there was a moment of silence to promote racial equality.
“In consultation with our players and MLS, we have collectively decided to play the National Anthem before the players take the field for tonight’s match against Nashville SC,” the statement read. “Prior to the start of the game, there will be a moment of silence for the players, coaches and all in attendance to promote racial equality.”
This comes in reaction to a series of occurrences right before, in the course of and right after Wednesday’s match among the two sides. In reaction to the choice of gamers to kneel in accordance with the Black Lives Issue motion for the countrywide anthem, some admirers booed the gamers whilst a few others threw bottles at them. An FC Dallas correspondent mentioned the perpetrator who threw the object was ousted.
Just after the match, Dallas defender Reggie Cannon was quizzed and uttered his dissatisfaction at the response of some followers as “totally disgusting.” He further said that: “You are not able to even have the support of your own admirers in your own stadium. It truly is certainly baffling to me.”
There have been worldwide protests since the death of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man who died on 25 May after a white police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin faces charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter, while three other officers were also sacked and charged with aiding and abetting murder.
