England-based Nigerian-born former footballer, Iffy Onuora has faulted the display of a banner bearing the inscription ‘white lives matter’ during Monday’s English Premier League clash between hosts Manchester City and Burnley, as he fears more tell-tale ripple effects are bound to follow the incident that emerged just as players on both sides took a knee to against racism,megasportsarena.com reports.
Onuora, who is now Professional Footballers’ Association equalities officer, was left fuming after a plane flew above the ground trailing the words ‘White lives matter Burnley’ just after kick-off between City and The Clarets, moments after all the players showed their support for the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement.
However, even as he uttered a terse reaction, the former striker, who starred for Huddersfield Town and Gillingham United during his heyday, said he hopes the offensive banner will act as a catalyst for further conversations about ‘Black Lives Matter’ as it affects football and society in general
His verdict came after Burnley issued a strong statement condemning the banner during half-time, and their captain, Ben Mee spoke passionately about the incident, for which the team echoed their sadness and shame, even as they went on to lose 5-0.
Onuora told BBC Breakfast: “The words themselves aren’t offensive, it’s just the context. It’s the rejection of the conversation we’re having at the moment. That’s what it represents. I guess people have the right to do it.
“For me, it’s just proof again that these things can lead to positive things because all that’s been said in the 12 hours since the game finished has been, again, a catalyst, another conversation to have.
“I think the good thing is that we are at such a transformative point now in the year and in football, all that’s gone on, that this just expands it again and hopefully leads to more conversations.
“For everyone out there these are uncomfortable conversations and we’ve got to have them. There’s nothing wrong with doing that, being comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
