Burnley FC apologise for fan flying ‘White Lives Matter’ banner
Burnley FC apologise after ‘White Lives Matter’ banner is flown over their Premier League match against Manchester City moments after players take the knee for BLM
- Burnley apologised and vowed to hand out lifetime bans to those responsible
- Private plane flew over Eithad stadium as players took a knee in support of BLM
- Burnley FC say they are investigating who is responsible for the aerial message
- Premier League players have shirts reading Black Lives Matter to support cause
By Milly Vincent For Mailonline
Published: 16:42 EDT, 22 June 2020 | Updated: 19:00 EDT, 22 June 2020
Burnley football club has apologised and vowed to hand out lifetime bans after a plane carrying a banner reading ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’ was flown over the Etihad stadium ahead of the team’s match with Manchester City this evening.
A private plane bearing the message flew over the stadium in Manchester just moments after both Burnley and Manchester players took a knee to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
Jake Hepple, a Burnley local, has claimed responsibility for the stunt sharing a video of the plane to his Facebook along with a refusal to apologise.
Hepple wrote: ‘I’d like to take this time to apologise .. TO ABSOLUTELY F****** NOBODY!
‘It’s now apparently racist to say white lives matter (the day after three white people got murdered in a park in Reading, but all we’ve seen on the TV is black lives matter after George Floyd got murdered) what a mad world we live in.’
Other members of the Suicide Squad – a group of hooligan Burnley fans – are thought to have spent the week leading up to Monday’s to crowdfund for the banner and flyover.
The stunt has led to outrage and has been widely condemned, with Burnley captain Ben Mee saying he was ‘shamed and embarrassed’.
Speaking after the match, which his side lost 5-0, he said that the Burnley players had heard ‘whispers’ that something may have been planned.
He said: ‘I am ashamed and embarrassed that a small number of our fans have decided to fly that around the stadium. It is not what we are about. They have missed what we are trying to achieve.
‘These people need to come into the 21st century and educate themselves. They don’t represent what we are about, the club is about, the players are about and the majority of fans are about.
‘I’ve heard it is a small number that have arranged this and I hope it doesn’t happen again. I don’t want to associate it with my club. I don’t want to see this in the game.
‘It is not right. We totally condemn it. These people can learn and be taught what Black Lives Matter is trying to achieve.’
Mee revealed Burnley attempted to halt the plans once they became aware of what was to follow.
‘As we were coming out we heard some whispers that it was going to happen,’ Mee added. ‘The club tried to stop it. I’ve heard it is a small number that have arranged this and I hope it doesn’t happen again.’
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A plane carrying a banner reading ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’ was flown over the Eithad stadium ahead of the team’s match with Manchester this evening
The private plane crossed the sky above the stadium just moments after both Burnley and Manchester players took a knee to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement
Manager Sean Dyche echoed his captain’s words, as did several other personalities, including Gary Lineker.
In addition to taking a knee before games, all Premier League players have worn the words Black Lives Matter on the back on their shirts and a logo on the sleeve of jerseys to show support for the movement.
Black Lives Matter protests erupted worldwide following the death of George Floyd, 46, who died after police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee on his neck for nine minutes, in Minneapolis, U.S., on May 25.
Tonight’s aerial display reading ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’ appeared to mock the movement, which is fighting against racism.
Burnley said in a statement: ‘Burnley Football Club strongly condemns the actions of those responsible for the aircraft and offensive banner that flew over The Etihad Stadium on Monday evening.
‘We wish to make it clear that those responsible are not welcome at Turf Moor.
‘This, in no way, represents what Burnley Football Club stands for and we will work fully with the authorities to identify those responsible and issue lifetime bans.
‘The club has a proud record of working with all genders, religions and faiths through its award-winning Community scheme, and stands against racism of any kind.
‘We are fully behind the Premier League’s Black Lives Matter initiative and, in line with all other Premier League games undertaken since Project Restart, our players and football staff willingly took the knee at kick-off at Manchester City.
‘We apologise unreservedly to the Premier League, to Manchester City and to all those helping to promote Black Lives Matter.’
Burnley Police tweeted: ‘We are aware who was involved, so are the club!! Thank you for reporting! This will be dealt with ASAP!’
Tonight’s aerial display reading ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’ appeared to mock the movement, which is fighting against racism
Jake Hepple (pictured left with English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson) has claimed responsibility for the stunt
Jake Hepple, a Burnley local, has claimed responsibility for the stunt sharing a video of the plane to his Facebook along with a refusal to apologise
Burnley manager Sean Dyche and staff take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign before the match between Manchester City and Burnley FC at Etihad Stadium on June 22, 2020
Referee Andre Marriner (right) and Sergio Aguero of Manchester City (left) kneels in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign before the match
Shocked watchers took to social media to express their anger at the stunt.
Piers Morgan wrote: ‘A plane flew over the Etihad stadium tonight with this banner saying ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’. So depressing.’
Pundit and former England footballer Mr Lineker added: ‘I’m sure @BurnleyOfficial will condemn this shithousery.’
Rachel Riley commented: ‘Anyone fancy a crowdfunder to get these idiots a tattoo to mark their brave and clever stunt. I reckon “Man City 5 – Burnley 0” would be perfect.’
Omid Djalli said: ‘Brilliant Ben Mee being on it ASAP. The #BlackLivesMatter movement is everyone against racism and discrimination towards all minorities. Burnley FC have apologised for an idiotic minority who want a race war. Well done the @premierleague for keeping on highlighting injustice.
‘If someone is chartering a plane to fly a banner like that over a football match, it proves definitively that there are racists out there literally with more money than sense .’
Jake Hepple (pictured) said in a statement to Facebook that he did not want to apologise for the incident
Mr Hepple shared photos and a video to Facebook of the plane carrying the message ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’
Burnley FC Police said they were aware who was involved in the incident, as were Burnley FC
Former Premier League striker Darren Bent tweeted in response to the plane’s message
Sam Lee tweeted: ‘There’s a plane flying over the Etihad that says ‘White lives matter – Burnley’. F****** hell, what an absolute embarrassment. Absolute disgrace’
Sports commentator Sam Lee tweeted: ‘There’s a plane flying over the Etihad that says ‘White lives matter – Burnley’. F****** hell, what an absolute embarrassment. Absolute disgrace.’
While others questioned who owned the plane and if a company had agreed to fly the message.
Players have been taking to their knees throughout the Premier League in a sign of support in the fight against inequality and injustice which was adopted by sports stars in 2016 after NFL player Colin Kaepernick knelt during the U.S. national anthem.
Tonight’s stunt comes after a noose was found in the garage of black NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace at a race in Alabama on Sunday.
The shocking discovery came less than two weeks after he successfully pushed the auto racing series to ban the Confederate flag at its tracks and facilities.
NASCAR announced the discovery late Sunday and said it had launched an immediate investigation.
It said it will do everything possible to find who was responsible and ‘eliminate them from the sport.’
