Jadon Sancho was among the Bundesliga players to send powerful anti-racism messages as protests rage across the world, with the England international saying "we shouldn't fear speaking out for what's right" following the death of George Floyd.

Mr Floyd died last Monday after a white police officer held him down by pressing a knee into his neck until he stopped breathing in Minneapolis in the United States.

Sancho was among those in the Bundesliga – the only major league to have so far returned to action amid the coronavirus crisis – to use his platform to call for change.

And five-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton posted on Instagram an apparent criticism of those in F1 not speaking out, saying: "I'm one of the only people of colour and yet I stand alone."

"We shouldn't fear speaking out for what's right, we have to come together as one & fight for justice. We are stronger together! #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd"

Dortmund team-mate Achraf Hakimi also revealed a 'Justice for George Floyd' message by lifting up his top after scoring.

"Together we will defeat racism! Justice," the Morocco international, who is on loan from Real Madrid, said on his Twitter account.

Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram made a similar stand in Sunday's other Bundesliga fixture, taking a knee in tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement after scoring the first of his two goals in a 4-1 win against Union Berlin.

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger posted a photo of the Frenchman's celebration with the caption "R E S P E C T!" and "no explanation needed".

Thuram later took to Twitter to say: "Together is how we move forward, together is how we make a change #BLACK_LIVES_MATTERS."

While those players were able to get across their message on the field, Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster took to social media to express his views.

Basketball great Michael Jordan also spoke out following the death of Mr Floyd.

"I am deeply saddened, truly pained and plain angry," he said. "I see and feel everyone's pain, outrage and frustration.

"I stand with those who are calling out the ingrained racism and violence toward people of colour in our country. We have had enough."