Before the match Burnley and Manchester City, players and coaches from both teams along with match officials dropped to a knee in silent demonstration. Peter G. Aiken

Burnley captain Ben Mee 'ashamed' of 'White Lives Matter' banner

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 6/22/20

Burnley captain Ben Mee was left ashamed and angry after a 5-0 thumping at the hands of Manchester City on Monday, but those emotions had more to do with what he saw in the sky than on the pitch.

Before the match, a person or group of individuals paid for a plane to fly a "White Lives Matter" banner over the Etihad Stadium. Around halftime of the contest, Burnley condemned the banner and threatened bans for anybody responsible:

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.

Mee lashed out at the guilty party or parties while speaking with Sky Sports after the match:

"I'm ashamed and embarrassed"

Burnley's Ben Mee responds to an offensive banner flown over the Etihad Stadium before today's game with Man City

More: https://t.co/CyyQFEMaNA pic.twitter.com/7sEb4cyM9m
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) June 22, 2020

"I'm ashamed and embarrassed that a small number of our fans have decided to put that around the stadium," Mee said. "They've completely missed the point," he said of somebody flying the banner on the same day he, his teammates, and opposing players wore jerseys with "Black Lives Matter" in place of their names following the killing of George Floyd.

"These people need to come into the 21st century and educate themselves," Mee continued. "It does not represent what we're about, the club's about, the players are about, and what the majority of the fans are about. I'm really upset that has happened."

Before the match, players and coaches from both teams along with match officials dropped to a knee in silent demonstration:

Man City and Burnley players take a knee before kick off in support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement pic.twitter.com/AkldArrYY2
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) June 22, 2020