An England fan who posed with a flag mocking the demise of Diego Maradona in Naples yesterday was given a lifetime ban by Burnley FC three years in the past for flying a ‘white lives matter’ banner above the Etihad stadium.
Jake Hepple had his match ticket for final night time’s recreation torn up by the FA after he was pictured holding the St George’s Cross with the phrases ‘Diego’s in a field’ within the 4 white quadrants whereas on a practice.
The senseless stunt provoked disgust amongst Neapolitans, who broadly revere the Argentinian footballer for his exploits whereas taking part in for native group Napoli. He died of a coronary heart assault in 2020.
Mr Hepple, who’s in his mid-20s, is a supporter of EDL founder Tommy Robinson and usually shares offensive materials on his Facebook web page, together with a photograph of himself giving the thumbs up subsequent to a mugshot of killer Raoul Moat.
In a earlier interview with MailOnline, he tried to excuse his use of the racist time period ‘p***’ on social media by saying he generally will get ‘a bit drunk and coked up and makes use of offensive language’.
The person was seen pictured with a St George’s flag that had the phrases ‘Diego’s in a field’ in every quadrant
A aircraft carrying a banner studying ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’ was flown over the Etihad stadium forward of the group’s match with Manchester
Mr Hepple is pictured on the left with English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson
Mr Hepple organized for the ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’ banner to be flown over the Etihad throughout Burnley’s recreation towards Manchester Metropolis’s stadium on June 22, 2020 simply after gamers had taken the knee.
He was later dismissed from his function as a welder at Lancashire-based Paradigm Precision, with the corporate saying it ‘didn’t condone or tolerate racism in any type’.
Afterwards he instructed MailOnline: ‘I am not racist. I do know individuals are attempting to make out to be one however I am not. I’ve obtained a number of Black and Asian mates and this banner was really impressed by the Black Lives Motion.
‘We weren’t attempting to offend the motion or black folks. I imagine that it is also necessary to acknowledge that white lives matter too. That is all we have been attempting to say.’
Mr Hepple had already been warned he was going through the sack, and stated in response: ‘My employer, the membership and so many different folks have utterly overreacted to what’s occurred.’
His girlfriend on the time, Megan Rambadt, additionally confronted criticism for racist social media posts and was sacked from her job as a beautician.
Final night time’s match between the Three Lions and the Azzurri had already been flagged for potential crowd hassle and was being held within the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium which is called after the footballing icon.
The earlier week there have been working battles after Eintracht Frankfurt’s visit in the Champions League and which also saw police cars set on fire.
England would go on to win 2-1, with targets from Declan Rice and Harry Kane placing the the match past Italy as Gareth Southgate’s group fought off a second half comeback.
A gaggle of England followers – together with Hepple – posing with the flag in Naples yesterday
Mr Hepple’s girlfriend, Megan Rambadt, additionally misplaced her job resulting from racist feedback she had made on social media
Ms Rambadt’s tweet about Burnley being like a ‘international nation’ that ‘wants sorting’
Whereas comparable scenes weren’t seen yesterday, the sight of an England fan mocking one in every of Naples’ most beloved figures wouldn’t have gone down effectively with locals.
Maradona, who died three years in the past, received 5 trophies – together with two Serie A titles – with Napoli between 1984 and 1990, at which level his profession was curtailed by a drug ban.
The Argentinian footballer, who received two World Cups along with his nation and scored the notorious ‘Hand of God’ objective towards England, is adored by followers of the Italian group, which has a statue in his honour on the floor.
Mr Hepple’s stunt sparked a powerful response from the FA, with a spokesperson saying: ‘We strongly condemn the actions of the person who travelled to Naples with a flag that had a extremely offensive message on it.
‘We instantly took steps to have their tickets cancelled earlier than the match. The matter will likely be reviewed additional once we return to England.’
Folks on social media have been yesterday left involved for his security, with many saying he might count on a violent response from Italian followers in Naples if seen carrying the flag.
Mr Hepple outed himself because the organiser of the 2020 white lives matter banner in a publish on Fb.
An image from Mr Hepple’s social media reveals him on the again with mates on the pub holding up England flags
In a earlier interview with MailOnline, Mr Hepple tried to excuse his use of the racist time period ‘p***’ on social media by saying he generally will get ‘a bit drunk and coked up and makes use of offensive language’
A personal aircraft crossed the sky above the stadium simply moments after each Burnley and Manchester gamers took a knee to indicate their help for the Black Lives Matter motion
The Suicide Squad, a gaggle of far-right Burnley followers, are believed to have crowdfunded for the flight.
Mr Hepple stated 60 folks contributed in the direction of the banner and the rent of the aircraft, which value £600 in complete.
He stated organisers had gives of cash from ‘lots of’ of people that have been keen to help the ‘white lives matter trigger.’
The aircraft flew over the stadium simply after Manchester Metropolis and Burnley FC gamers had taken the knee in help of the Black Lives Matter motion.
Mr Hepple, who lives at residence along with his mom Jill and stepfather Dave, stated he solely turned concerned after a terror assault in Studying shortly earlier than the sport.
In 2010, Mr Hepple posted this flag exhibiting help for the far-right English Defence League
Mr Hepple, a Burnley native, refused to apologise for the white lives matter banner
Mr Hepple shared photographs and a video to Fb of the aircraft carrying the message ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’
He continued: ‘The concept for it got here from a soccer pal of mine. He needed to make the purpose that not simply Black Lives Matter however so do white ones and all different ones.
‘I supported the thought and imagine that it wanted to be stated. I nonetheless do. Then the assault occurred in Studying and I assumed I’ve to get extra concerned with the banner.
‘I used to be offended that white folks had been killed and no person was making a fuss about that.’
Mr Hepple’s stunt led to outrage and has been broadly condemned, with Burnley captain Ben Mee saying he was ‘shamed and embarrassed’.
Different Burnley followers began a Go Fund Me page elevating cash for the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Belief, arrange in reminiscence of the black teenager after he was killed in a racist assault in 1993.
