England & USA unveil 'protect the players' banner ahead of Wembley friendly

Players from England and the USA unveiled a banner reading 'protect the players' ahead of Friday evening's fixture at Wembley as a joint show of solidarity for victims of sexual abuse following the release of Sally Yates' report into US women's soccer.

The report was published on Monday, and found verbal and emotional abuse and sexual misconduct to be 'systematic' with US women's soccer.

The abuse spanned across 'multiple teams, coaches, and victims' within US women's soccer, and clubs, the NWSL and US Soccer failed to put basic safeguarding measures in place to protect players from abusive coaches.

Players from England and the USA gathered on the half way line ahead of kickoff to display the teal banner to the sound of applause at a packed out Wembley.

Beth Mead and Megan Rapinoe confirmed on Thursday that the two teams were in discussions over preparing a show of support ahead of their sellout fixture at the national stadium.

Both sides wore teal armbands, and the Wembley arch was lit up in teal for the quarter of an hour proceeding kick off, as a show of solidarity for victims of sexual abuse.

Speaking ahead of the fixture, Megan Rapinoe had praised her side's ability to come together in the face of adversity.

"It's really sad to say, but in a way, I think we're used to having to deal with one thing or another," Rapinoe said. "It seems to bring us closer and definitely unify the team. It's just one of those sort of intimate environments that we're in that we're used to taking on a lot and playing in these kinds of conditions."

Sarina Wiegman and Beth Mead labelled the issues uncovered in the report a 'world wide' problem. Lucy Bronze praised women's sport for 'finally fighting back' against abuse.