Premier League back with doubleheader after 100-day shutdown
Manchester City dominates Arsenal; Aston Villa draws Sheffield United
When Manchester City scored the first goals the Premier League had seen in 100 days, only health workers were in the stands to applaud.
For the last three months, it's been the nation applauding the health workers.
In protective clothing, they were among only 300 people allowed into the Etihad Stadium for the game against Arsenal which helped end the Premier League's shutdown on Wednesday.
The screens were also used to mourn some of those who died during the pandemic. The face of Glyn Pardoe, a former City player and coach, was shown three weeks after the virus killed him at the age of 73.
"Together we have been facing a health emergency," the City stadium announcer said. "Heroes have risen to challenges we never imaged."
WATCH | Manchester City defeats Arsenal:
The teams also used the occasion to pay tribute to George Floyd, with the players taking a knee around the centre circle before kickoff in a gesture of solidarity against the racial injustice reinforced by his death at the hands of police in Minnesota.
All players also wore shirts with the text "Black Lives Matter" replacing the names on their backs.
"I see it as a massive step by the Premier League to allow something like that to happen," said Sterling, who has been an outspoken campaigner against racism. "It shows we're heading in the right direction. Little by little, we are seeing change and that's what everyone is hoping for, not just black players but the majority of the country."
Social distance measures followed
It was Sterling who scored the Premier League's first goal since March 9 by capitalizing on an error by David Luiz in first-half stoppage time. The goal celebration featured a touch of elbows with teammates and a brief embrace to respect social distancing.
Substitutes also must remain two meters (6 feet) apart on the sidelines, leaving them sitting up in the stands closer to the press tribune than the bench. The voices of radio commentators and the shouts between the players and coaches only punctuated the unique lack of atmosphere in the world's biggest football league.
The medical staff, wearing protective equipment, twice had to enter the field in the opening 20 minutes when Arsenal players Granit Xhaka and Pablo Mari went down injured and had to come off.
Some in full white suits and face masks spent 10 minutes on the field in the second half to treat City defender Eric Garcia after a collision with goalkeeper Ederson — a clattering sound that could be heard around the stadium.
He was carried off on a stretcher wearing an oxygen mask as the stadium announcer said: "We wish Eric Garcia a full and speedy recovery."
Players 'take a knee' in opening match
Inside a silent and virtually empty Villa Park stadium, both sets of players from Aston Villa and Sheffield United — along with the coaching staffs and match officials — took a knee in a show of support for the Black Lives Matter movement and in honour of George Floyd.
It was a poignant way to mark the resumption of the Premier League.
The first match back after the suspension finished 0-0 and even though it was marred by an extraordinary technology glitch, it was the opening sequence that was the most memorable moment.
"Both clubs hope that the act of 'taking a knee' will send a strong message of unity and amplify the many messages of support from Premier League players and the wider football family," the two teams said in a statement published minutes after the act.
WATCH | Premier league players send anti-racism message:
In another strong anti-racism message, players on each team had their names removed from the back of their shirts and replaced with "Black Lives Matter." They had already warmed up in all-black T-shirts with "Black Lives Matter" written on them, and the same words were written on some of the banners draped over seats where fans would usually be seated at Villa Park.
Before the players took a knee, a minute's silence was held in tribute to those who have been killed in the pandemic. There have been more than 40,000 deaths in Britain alone, but soccer still made its return after more than three months.
"It was a really strange afternoon and evening. Quite difficult as well," Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder said. "We were all going into the unknown today."
Tech-glitch causes controversy
Wilder ended the game aggrieved that his team did not earn all three points that would have lifted Sheffield United above Manchester United into fifth place, which might secure a place in next season's Champions League because of the two-year European ban handed to second-place Manchester City. That ban is under appeal.
After 41 minutes, Sheffield United midfielder Oliver Norwood swung a dangerous free kick into the six-yard box of Villa's penalty area and the ball was collected by backpedaling Villa goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland. However, Nyland was bundled over the line and into the sidenetting of the goal by a teammate, with replays showing the entire ball had crossed the line.
Referee Michael Oliver didn't award the goal, though, despite the celebrations of Sheffield United's players that reverberated around the stadium. Instead, the official pointed to his watch, suggesting it hadn't vibrated to signal that a goal had been awarded by Hawk-Eye.
Hawk-Eye said the view of its cameras had been blocked by the players and the goal post.
