Burnley Football Club has denounced a racial protest that marred its English Premier League match against Manchester City on Tuesday (NZ time).
As kickoff neared, an aircraft flew over City's Etihad Stadium, trailling a banner that read "White Lives Matter Burnley!"
Before the game, both teams took a knee to support the 'Black Lives Matter' movement that has momentum in recent weeks, after African-American George Floyd was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis.
Burnley wasted little time distancing itself from the aerial protest, issuing a press release while the match was still in progress.
"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," it said. "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."
Clarets captain Ben Mee echoed his club's stance in post-game comments, after his side had fallen to a 5-0 loss. Burnley's All Whites striker, Chris Wood, missed the match with an Achilles tendon niggle.
"We can talk about football, but there's something I want to speak about first," Mee told Sky Sports. "I'm ashamed and embarrassed that a small group of our fans have decided to put that around the stadium.
"They've completely missed the point and the group of lads in there are embarrassed to see that.
"These people need to come into the 21st century and educate themselves, as a lot of us do."
Mee admitted the club had heard rumours of a protest before the match and tried to stop it.
"I hope it doesn't happen again," he said. "I'm ashamed, I'm upset that it's been associated with my club and it's not something we want to see again."
