Plane carrying 'white lives matter' banner over Man City's Etihad Stadium appears to have departed from Blackpool Airport

A plane carrying a 'white lives matter Burnley' banner flew over the Etihad Stadium

These are the numbers of coronavirus deaths per area in Fylde in the last three ...

According to the Flight Radar website, which tracks planes in real time, the aircraft took off from the Fylde coast at around 7.30pm before making its way to Manchester prior to tonight's Premier League fixture.

It circled the Etihad just as the players of both Manchester City and Burnley took a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

"Disgusting, only there to antagonise", one user posted on Twitter.

Niall Gray posted: "Sort it out @BLKAirport"

Dave Seaside said: "It took off from Blackpool about 19.30, I saw it fly over St Annes"

"We live near the airport and the wife saw it from the lounge window," Twitter account FB Records posted.

"Such an odd move for any company to take any order of this nature", Nick Bell said.

All players in the 12 Premier League games since the restart of the season after the Covid-19 stoppage have worn ‘Black Lives Matter’ on their shirts in place of their names as the league formally joined the international protest campaign sparked by the death last month of George Floyd.

Burnley FC issued a statement condemning the actions of those responsible for the "offensive" banner.

"We wish to make it clear that those responsible are not welcome at Turf Moor," the club said.

"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."