Crystal Palace say they proudly support the principles behind black lives matter

Crystal Palace have backed the message of Black Lives Matter and criticised those who use the term to ‘push their own political agenda’.

The organisation has come under criticism for their policy of defunding the police, their calls to end capitalism and their suggestion that ‘Zionist’ influence was stopping questions over Israel’s policy of annexing the West Bank.

While it has been made clear by many that there is a dividing line between the message and the UK organisation, a number of Sky Sports pundits chose not to wear Black Lives Matter badges on Tuesday night.

Crystal Palace FC have backed the message of Black Lives Matter in a statement

Andros Townsend taking the knee prior to kick-off in their game against Burnley this week

They included Patrice Evra, while BBC bosses banned pundits and hosts from wearing the symbol. Sky Sports’ hosts and pundits all wore the badge on Wednesday night.

Now Palace have made it clear that they will continue to back the message, while casting doubt on those who have used it for other means.

A statement on their site read: ‘As people will have seen from our first home game, we have placed banners over our seated areas at Selhurst Park that read: BLACK LIVES MATTER.

‘We stand proudly alongside members of the BAME community, our players and employees, and behind the ideals and ethos of “black lives matter”. 

‘However, we would like to make clear that we do not endorse any pressure group or body that carries the same term in its name, and we strongly believe that organisations should not use this important force for change and positivity to push their own political agendas.

‘We want to be part of a world that is fair, inclusive and open to all. 

‘As an organisation, we recognise that we need to do more, and we will do more to contribute towards this goal.’

A number of pundits have discussed the issue in recent days after controversy over the UK arm of Black Lives Matter’s aims. 

Matt Le Tissier, said he only wore the badge after being asked to do so by bosses at the broadcaster. 

Le Tissier, 51, criticised the group’s ‘far-left ideology’ and said he ‘could not support’ the cause’s anti-police and anti-capitalist aims. 

BT Sport pundit and Sportsmail columnist Chris Sutton wrote on Thursday: ‘There is a difference between Black Lives Matter the message and Black Lives Matter the organisation.

‘One is about fighting for equality. The other’s UK wing has courted controversy by calling for police funding to be cut and an end to free trade with Israel. 

‘I’m not one for delving too deeply into politics but for me, that is not what Black Lives Matter has ever been about. This movement has always been about the powerful over-riding message it conveys – that the lives of black people matter as much as anyone’s.

‘That is why I supported the campaign in the first place and support it now. That is why players kneel before kick- off and wear badges on their shirt sleeves. That is why if I was in the TV studio today and was offered the option of wearing a BLM badge, I would do so. That’s my personal choice.’

MailOnline can also reveal the issue has been discussed by several players, with a group of top-flight captains considering whether to make a public statement on the matter.

While the players remain united in campaigning for equality and maintaining such symbolic gestures for the rest of the season, some are concerned about being associated with the political activism of BLM. 

The cause has been widely supported across football and the wider sporting world by TV and media stars, but that all changed on Sunday when BLM UK issued a barrage of tweets over Israel’s proposed annexation of the West Bank and claimed that ‘mainstream British politics is gagged of the right to critique Zionism.’ 

The following day Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who has ‘taken the knee’ alongside parliamentary colleagues, called it a ‘shame’ that the sentiment behind the BLM protests was getting ‘tangled up with these organisational issues’ and said calls to defund the police were ‘nonsense.’

Players have continued taking the knee prior to kick-off in every match that has been played in the United Kingdom since the season restarted.