Elgin City striker Smart Osadolor hopes Scottish football can pay its own respect to the Black Lives Matter movement when games resume.
Speaking on this week’s episode of the Northern Goal podcast, Osadolor would like to see how teams in this country follow the examples that have been set elsewhere.
The English Premier League resumed last month with players’ shirts adorned with Black Lives Matter, with logos visible too. Players have also been taking a knee before kick-offs in the majority of games. Players across the continent, such as Jadon Sancho, Schalke’s Weston McKennie and Romelu Lukaku have also made their own gestures of support.
Osadolor said: “I signed with Elgin in January and since everything has happened, little things like Elgin being one of the first clubs to repost ‘Black Lives Matter’, is humbling to see and shows a sign of support. I would hope that once football gets back in Scotland, it would be good to see how Scotland shows their compassion towards the situation.
“It’s difficult because people can say they don’t know how to best show their support, but it’s about trying understand perspective from black players within the league and people speaking out. I find it difficult to constantly explain the emotions I feel but I just hope when football comes back, it’ll be good to see Scotland doing such things as well.
“Players in Germany have done it, players in Italy have done it, so it would be good to see what Scotland does in support of that.”
Change must come! I make no apologies for standing for what I believe in! I love my city for coming together. We all bleed the same. The colour of ones skin doesn’t give no rights or reasons to be treated differently. Love me or hate you – it’s okay – I still love you.!❤️🖤 #BLM pic.twitter.com/TJBoXHA8AV
— Smarticus Osadolor (@Sadolor) June 7, 2020
Osadolor, who lives in Glasgow, attended a BLM protest at Glasgow Green last month and admitted he was humbled by the turnout of people.
He added: “It’s important to say that the timing of the gathering wasn’t ideal, with the coronavirus pandemic, but growing up in Glasgow I’ve certainly experienced certain things. Seeing Glasgow now compared to what it was 10 or 15 years ago when I first moved here, how everyone has come together is absolutely breathtaking.
“People might say I’m biased but I think Scotland is one of the best countries in the world. The only thing that maybe lets it down is the weather that we get.
“Growing up in Scotland and growing up in Glasgow, to see everyone come together tells me everything I need to know about this country.”
The movement gained significant traction following the killing of George Floyd by law enforcement , an unarmed black man in Minneapolis, which sparked protests across America and further afield.
Osadolor went to university in the States, attending Tiffin University in Ohio.