This archive report was first published on 24 June 2020.
On June 22, 2020, a plane towing a banner with the message 'White Lives Matter Burnley' flew over the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation.
The banner was seen shortly after both teams had taken a knee in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, which has gained momentum globally in the wake of George Floyd's death in the United States.
Burnley chairman Mike Garlick has since vowed to 'root out the racists' behind the banner stunt, promising to hand lifetime bans to those responsible.
Garlick told ESPN, 'We will root out these racists and I am sure they will be dealt with in due course. We will do whatever we can to make sure justice is done against these people.'
However, Lancashire police investigated the incident and concluded that no crime was committed, stating that there were 'no criminal offences that have been disclosed at this time.'
Burnley captain Ben Mee was 'ashamed' of the incident, urging people to 'come into the 21st century' and engage in meaningful conversations about racial injustice.
Equalities officer for the Professional Footballers' Association, Iffy Onuora, praised Mee's strong words, saying they had been 'well-chosen' and 'inspired' others to take action.
Onuora added, 'In itself, the words themselves aren’t offensive, it’s the context. It’s the rejection of conversations we are having at the moment and that’s what it represents.'
Sanjay Bhandari, chairman of Kick It Out, an English football anti-racism charity, also weighed in on the incident, saying that the fans who organized the stunt were missing the point of the Black Lives Matter movement.
