Burnley vow to hand LIFETIME bans to the fans responsible for flying ‘white lives matter’ banner

Burnley vow to hand LIFETIME bans to the fans responsible for flying ‘white lives matter’ banner over Man City’s stadium as chairman Mike Garlick says club will ‘root out these racists and make sure justice is done’

  • Burnley say they will ban fans over a banner that flew over the Etihad on Monday 
  • A plane flew the words ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’ prior to the Man City game 
  • The club insist they are ‘opposed to any form of discrimination of any kind’
  • Chairman Mike Garlick said Burnley ‘deplores’ the incident and promised justice 

Burnley have insisted they will give out lifetime bans to any supporters found to be involved with the flying of a ‘white lives matter’ before their game at Manchester City on Monday night.

After Burnley and City players took a knee prior to kick off in support of the Black Lives Matter movement sweeping the world and sport, the banner in question was spotted above the Etihad, reading: ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’.

It has caused outraged among the football community with many players and pundits slamming the stunt, and now Burnley have released a statement promising to come down hard on any fans who were responsible. 

Burnley have promised to issue lifetime bans to any supporters involved in flying a banner that read ‘White Lives Matter’ before their game with Manchester City on Monday

‘Burnley Football Club is opposed to any form of racism and discrimination of any kind,’ the club said.

‘As custodians of the club, we stand firmly behind the statement condemning the message flown over the Etihad Stadium on Monday night and are fully in support of the words of club captain Ben Mee, delivered after the match.

‘Black Lives Matter is a movement supported by all players in the Premier League and the league itself.

The club said it stands 'firmly behind' Black Lives Matter and opposes all forms of racism

The club said it stands ‘firmly behind’ Black Lives Matter and opposes all forms of racism

‘While we naturally consider that all lives matter, let us be clear that the Black Lives Matter movement aims to overcome years of racial inequality against the BAME community and promote a greater fairness for all.

‘We at Burnley therefore stand firmly behind it and oppose anything that may appear to undermine or challenge such a positive message.’

Burnley added that it has a ‘zero tolerance policy’ on any form of discrimination at Turf Moor and that anyone found guilty of such behaviour would be banned for life, with the same punishment handed to those found guilty of the banner.

‘The club operates a zero-tolerance stance on discrimination of any form at Turf Moor and is increasingly issuing lifetime bans for supporters that incite racism and hatred.

‘This punishment will also be meted out to those responsible for Monday’s regrettable incident.’

Chairman Mike Garlick insists the club 'deplores' the incident and will 'root out' the culprits

Chairman Mike Garlick insists the club ‘deplores’ the incident and will ‘root out’ the culprits

Club chief Mike Garlick admitted he ‘wasn’t proud to be Burnley chairman’ following the incident and said they would ‘root out these racists’. 

‘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.

‘Let’s be clear. The plane didn’t fly in our name. It has absolutely nothing to do with Burnley Football Club and we absolutely deplore it.

Captain Ben Mee said he was 'ashamed' as he slammed the behaviour of those responsible

Captain Ben Mee said he was ‘ashamed’ as he slammed the behaviour of those responsible

‘But we have to talk about it. We cannot and will not sweep it under the carpet.

‘I was at the game and I have been chairman/co-chairman for eight years. I have always been proud to be in that position, but I can tell you that I wasn’t proud to be Burnley chairman last night.’

Also condemning the banner was club captain Ben Mee, who said those involved ‘need to come into the 21st century’ and adding that he was ‘ashamed’, while manager Sean Dyche said it was ‘clearly unacceptable’. 

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