Burnley players may take the knee for second time after banner outrage
Burnley players will discuss taking the knee before facing Watford tonight, three days after the symbolic gesture was hijacked by a “White Lives Matter” banner flown over their fixture at Manchester City.
The prematch act in support of the Black Lives Matter movement was only agreed for the first round of Premier League matches, but Ben Mee and his team-mates may show their solidarity after being upset as news of the plane stunt reached them during and just after their defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
It has emerged that fan Jake Hepple, who claimed responsibility for the stadium flyover, has been sacked from Paradigm Precision, who make products for gas turbine engines. His girlfriend has been suspended from her beauty job, but he faces no police action.
Sean Dyche, the Burnley manager, has revealed more players wanted to speak out over the incident but the decision was made for Mee to speak on their behalf.
They will now discuss whether to take the knee when they face Watford. “It was an agreed thing for the first round of games,” Dyche said. “I watched the two games on Tuesday and the first game didn’t take the knee. I will share a view with my players and if they wish to and collectively decide that, we’ll all go together. But if they do or they don’t, I can assure you it is not affecting their thinking on the situation, and the unacceptable nature of it. If they felt strongly about it, and they agree with the other side and the referee, they would do so”
Dyche defended a lack of diversity on the club’s board of directors and coaching staff when asked ahead of the Watford clash.
“I don’t think it says anything other than people working in their places,” he said. “I don’t know how that works from a board point of view, from my knowledge you buy into a board situation so that is something they would have to consider,” he said. “I’ve inherited most of my staff here. Player-wise, we buy the best players we can regardless of colour or creed. It’s ‘Can they do the job they want us to do’. We just work authentically as a football club to try to be successful.” While other players were upset over the plane stunt, only Dwight Mcneil has spoken out in addition to Mee after former England striker Darren Bent stated on Twitter that Burnley had no black players. Mcneil is mixed-race. “Dwight pointed out he was,” said Dyche. “So he wasn’t overly happy with that. He spoke to his father first, which is important, and decided to put out a short message back to explain that situation.” Meanwhile, Phil Bardsley has agreed a deal to stay at the club but Joe Hart, Jeff Hendrick and Aaron Lennon will depart without playing during Project Restart.
Probable teams: Burnley (4-4-2): Pope; Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Brownhill, Westwood, Cork, Mcneil; Vydra, Rodriguez. Watford (4-2-3-1): Foster; Kiko, Kabasele, Dawson, Masina; Hughes, Capoue; Sarr, Doucoure, Welbeck; Deeney.