Worldwide protests over the death of George Floyd will prove to be a catalyst for change in the fight against racism in society and sport, says former Impact man, Nigel Reo-Coker.

Reo-Coker told Sky Sports News: “This is really going to be a turning point and it will be more than just lip service.

“We’ve had a few similar incidents about racism and equality that’s happened previously and I kind of felt it’s been lip service.”

The former West Ham and Aston Villa player highlighted street art commemorating George Floyd seen in Berlin, Germany adding...

“You’re seeing now that there’s been protesting in pretty much all the states in America. There’s been protesting around the world. I think this video (George Floyd) has really been the eye-opener for people because it was so graphic.

“You don’t want it to be just ‘oh let’s put up a Black Lives matter Instagram post’ or something along those lines. I think playing in football like Darren [Bent] and I did in dressing rooms and you being in mixed dressing rooms, you’d want some of your white players to actually talk more to their black players and understand the experiences and try to understand where they’re coming from and what it’s like.

“Don’t talk for them but try to understand them and see what you could do better or what you could educate your younger kids to do better, to understand the struggles that young black men have to face.”

Reo-Coker, who now lives in Florida and appears periodically as an analyst on Sky Sports, has witnessed several days of protests in the United States following the death of Floyd in Minnesota last week and believes there now must be positive action taken against racism.

Nigel Reo-Coker is a former Impact captain, who also played in MLS for Vancouver Whitecaps and Chivas USA. He made 31+9 appearances (all competitions) for the Impact in 2015, having joined from Chivas USA in December 2014. Reo-Coker left for IK Start Kristiansand (Norway) in January 2016.

Reo-Coker did not win an England full cap, but he was capped by England u21’s on 23 occasions. He was also the first Englishman to captain a team at the new Wembley, a 3-3 draw with Italy u21’s in March 2007.