A plane carrying the message ‘White Lives Matter – Burnley’ was flown over the Etihad stadium moments after kick-off between Manchester City and Burnley.
All 22 players took a knee before kick-off in recognition of the Black Lives Matter movement, which has garnered support from across the world since George Floyd died in police custody.
Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback, kick-started the movement by crouching during the American national anthem to raise awareness of the police brutality that many black people endure in the United States.
Every Premier League match since the restart last Wednesday has seen 22 players and all staff members take a knee before kick-off but despite the widespread support, there have been counter protests from a minority of the public.
The Black Lives Matter protests spread from Minneapolis to various areas of the world but there were counter protests in London from far-right organisations a week after the Winston Churchill statue was vandalised in May.
That attitude appears to have spread and a plane carrying a ‘White Lives Matter – Burnley’ message was seen above the Etihad around a minute after kick-off.
It’s unclear who funded the message but it’s clear it comes in defiance against the Premier League-wide decision for players to take a knee before kick-off.
All shirts have been changed since Project Restart to include a ‘Black Lives Matter’ and NHS message, to mark the changes that have occured since top flight football was in full swing three months ago.
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