Leyton Orient midfielder Jobi McAnuff fears the resumption of the football season will put fellow black athletes at an increased risk of contracting coronavirus.
Research conducted by the Office for National Statistics suggests black men and women are nearly twice as likely to die with the virus as white people in England and Wales.
The study is thought to show inequality persists even when age, deprivation, prior health and location are taken into account.
Now McAnuff, who has represented nine football league clubs during a career spanning three decades, is concerned black players will not be protected when football returns.