With the eyes of the world on the English Premier League’s long-awaited resumption, players in both Wednesday’s games took a knee in a powerful and symbolic show of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

The headline act on the day the Premier League returned after a 100-day absence was supposed to be Manchester City’s blockbuster encounter against Arsenal, featuring some of the finest players in world football.

But the most memorable moment of action in both games — Aston Villa and Sheffield United literally got things rolling earlier in the day — took place before a ball was kicked in anger.

Refereeing officials and coaching members of staff of the four teams involved in Wednesday’s games also took a knee, while all the players wore shirts with their names replaced by the words “Black Lives Matter,” a tribute to the movement which has grown in prominence since George Floyd’s death