appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Associated Press

As the players of Manchester City and Burnley took a knee inside an empty Etihad Stadium in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, the sound of an aircraft could be heard overhead.
It had a very different message.
“White Lives Matter Burnley” read a banner being pulled by the small plane that circled the ground for several minutes on a clear Monday evening in the east of Manchester.
Ben Mee, the captain of Burnley, couldn’t help but notice. He and his teammates had heard rumours just before they walked out for the match that such a stunt had been planned.
From Kitchee to Blackburn Rovers – Hong Kong-born footballer Jay Haddow channels inner Michael Carrick after England move
The club had even tried to prevent the plane from taking off.
“I’m ashamed and embarrassed,” said Mee, who added that the incident “definitely had a massive impact on us” as Burnley went on lose 5-0.

Condemnation was quick to arrive, firstly on social media and then from Burnley in a statement issued at half-time in which the club strongly condemned what it deemed an “offensive banner.”
“This, in no way, represents what Burnley Football Club stands for,” the statement read, “and we will work fully with the authorities to identify those responsible and issue lifetime bans.”
Seething Evertonians preparing for a gloomy summer as Liverpool head to Goodison with the title in sight
“We apologise unreservedly,” Burnley said, “to the Premier League, to Manchester City and to all those helping to promote Black Lives Matter.”
When the Premier League season resumed last week, “Black Lives Matter” replaced player names on the backs of shirts for the first 12 matches in support of a movement that has gained popularity worldwide since the killing of George Floyd in the United States last month.
Players, coaches and match officials have taken a knee for around 10 seconds before kick-off in the dozen matches so far.
“A group of lads in there are embarrassed to see that,” Mee said of his squad. “It’s not what we are about at all, and it’s missed the point of the whole thing, what we’re trying to achieve, to do.
“These people need to come into the 21st century and educate themselves.”
It was not immediately clear who arranged the aircraft and banner.
The incident overshadowed another impressive performance for City after the team’s 3-0 victory over Arsenal last week.
There was a big concern for City manager Pep Guardiola, however, with Sergio Aguero hobbling off with a right knee injury just before half-time.

“It doesn’t look good,” Guardiola said. “We will see tomorrow. He felt something in his knee. He was struggling in the last month about some pain in his knee.”
The Argentina striker already appeared in discomfort after having a shot blocked midway through the first half. Then, seconds before half-time, Aguero was fouled by Mee in the area in stoppage time to earn a penalty.
Aguero stayed down, clutching his knee, and soon left the field. As he walked past Guardiola in the technical area, Aguero pointed to a region behind his right knee and the coach reacted by shaking his head.
Any lengthy absence would leave City with just one recognised striker, Gabriel Jesus, as the team looks to negotiate its way through a hectic schedule since the resumption of the football season after the coronavirus outbreak. City have eight more league games to play before July 26 and are also in the FA Cup, which resumes at the quarter-final stage at the weekend.
Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez both scored twice, with David Silva adding the other goal.
The victory for second-placed City ensured Liverpool cannot clinch the league title against Crystal Palace at Anfield on Wednesday.
If Liverpool win against Palace, the title could be sealed a day later if City lose at Chelsea.


Pep Guardiola expected to leave City after this season, Enzo Maresca to take over: reports

Xabi Alonso says there is ‘immense pride’ at being named Chelsea manager

Hong Kong trip vital in ensuring next Chelsea boss makes mark like Jose Mourinho

Something you’d bury grandma in, or a must-have? Man United’s China-style top divides fans

English Premier League

Premier League: ‘White Lives Matter’ plane banner overshadows Man City win

A small aircraft (out of frame) flies a banner which reads ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’ over the Etihad Stadium at the start of the Premier League match between Manchester City and Burnley. Photo: EPA

epa08502741 Riyad Mahrez (L) of Manchester City celebrates with temmate Sergio Aguero after scoring the second goal for his team during the English Premier League match between Manchester City and Burnley in Manchester, Britain, 22 June 2020. EPA-EFE/Shaun Botterill/NMC/Pool EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

22 June 2020, England, Manchester: Manchester City's Sergio Aguero lies on the pitch injured during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Burnley at the Etihad Stadium. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa

From Kitchee to Blackburn Rovers – Hong Kong-born footballer Jay Haddow channels inner Michael Carrick after England move

Hong Kong-born footballer Jay Haddow joins Championship team Blackburn Rovers’ youth set-up. Photo: Handout

Blackburn Rovers youth midfielder Jay Haddow controls the ball against Manchester City. Photo: Handout

Blackburn Rovers midfielder Jay Haddow during a Kitchee U-12s match. Photo: Kitchee

Hong Kong-born Jay Haddow (second from left) with father Dirk, mother Teruko, and younger brother Yoji. Photo: Handout

English-Japanese footballer Jay Haddow passes the ball in a game against Reading in 2019. Photo: Handout

Manchester United caretaker head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, right, and Manchester United's Phil Jones celebrate at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Fulham and Manchester United at Craven Cottage stadium in London, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Manchester United's new signing Michael Carrick (R) walks with manager Alex Ferguson at the Carrington training facility in Manchester, northern England, August 2, 2006. REUTERS/Darren Staples (BRITAIN)

Hong Kong-born footballer Jay Haddow runs with the ball for team Blackburn Rovers against Middlesbrough. Photo: Handout

How a Hong Kong-based start-up is helping Premier League players and other sports clubs restart fixtures while raising capital

The English Premier League trophy is displayed in an empty stadium. Photo: AP

epa08139123 Former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand ahead of the English Premier league soccer match between West Ham United v Everton held at the London Stadium in London, Britain, 18 January 2020. EPA-EFE/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

This photo taken on May 16, 2020 shows a medical worker taking a swab sample from a child to be tested for the COVID-19 coronavirus, in a street in Wuhan, in China's central Hubei province. (Photo by STR / AFP) / China OUT [20MAY2020 HEALTH FEATURES] CREDIT: AFP

Danny Yeung Sheng-wu, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Prenetics, displays a biochip in the Company’s laboratory for genetic testing at the Prosperity Millennia Plaza in Quarry Bay. 20NOV18 SCMP / Nora Tam

Football racism: English Premier League and Serie A double standards holding back fight against prejudice

A banner reading ‘No to racism’ is displayed on the stands before a Euro 2020 qualifier between Bulgaria and Czech Republic in Sofia. Photo: AFP

Inter Milan's Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A football match Inter Milan vs US Lecce on August 26, 2019 at the San Siro stadium in Milan. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP)

Britain Football Soccer - Liverpool v Leeds United - EFL Cup Quarter Final - Anfield - 29/11/16 Liverpool's Divock Origi in action Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Newcastle United - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - September 1, 2018 Manchester City's Benjamin Mendy and Newcastle United's Kenedy during the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Bulgarian fans react during the Euro 2020 Group A football qualification match between Bulgaria and England due to incidents with fans, at the Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia on October 14, 2019. (Photo by NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV / AFP)

Sport

Football


Ben Mee says his Burnley team were adversely affected by the banner



Ben Mee says his Burnley team were adversely affected by the banner.


Premier League: ‘White Lives Matter’ plane banner overshadows Man City win

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Ben Mee says his Burnley team were adversely affected by the banner

Ben Mee says his Burnley team were adversely affected by the banner