Black Lives Matter: Women's Super League players to 'show solidarity' - Asante

Chelsea defender Anita Asante (right) and teammate Ramona Bachmann prior to a training session at Stamford Bridge, London, England. Photo: Harriet Lander - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

More must be done to "create the kind of change that athletes, people and society want to see", says Aston Villa and England defender Anita Asante.


Asante spoke amid player walkouts in various sports in the United States after Jacob Blake was shot by police.

Women's Super League players are set to take a knee this season to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

England captain Steph Houghton added: "It's important to show we can always be together and united over equality."

On Thursday a number of players told BBC Sport they expect teams to take a knee prior to kick-off in Saturday's Community Shield fixture between Chelsea and Manchester City at Wembley.

Anita Asante in action for Chelsea against West Ham. Photo: Avril Husband/West Ham United FC via Getty Images

It will be the first competitive professional women's football fixture in England since February, and therefore the first opportunity for WSL players to show their support in this way.

Asante, 35, who could make her Villa debut when they host Manchester City in the WSL opener seven days later, said: "It's an important message to show solidarity.

"But we have to do more in terms of how we impart direct actions that will create the kind of change that athletes and people and society want to see.

"That's just a small part of a bigger goal, ultimately. For me it's about human rights, and if we share those values then it's one we can all buy into."