Jonathan Metliss, chairman of Action Against Discrimination (AAD), said it supported calls for Burnley Football Club to rename its Bob Lord Stand, in the light of anti-semitic comments that he made in the 1970’s at a Variety Club dinner.
Those remarks caused anger at the time and many guests walked out of the event in protest. Letters of complaint were sent to Sir Andrew Stephen, Chairman of the football association, and Len Shipman, president of the Football League.
Coincidentally, this comes after Burnley supporters made Nazi salutes at the Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley game on 15 May. They are now subject to punitive action. Although Lord apologised for his comments at the time, the Club have now launched a probe into the matter.
In the circumstances, AAD calls on Burnley Football Club to rename the Bob Lord Stand in the best interests of football and honorable behaviour. Anti-semitic behaviour in any form is simply not acceptable , nor must it be tolerated or condoned.
