A Nottinghamshire MP has blasted a Premier League decision that will see footballers wearing Black Lives Matter on the back of shirts when the football season resumes.
Ben Bradley, MP for Mansfield, described it as a "political" move and questioned why the football organisation would support a movement that wants to "defund the police".
It follows a decision by the Premier League to print 'Black Lives Matter' in place of players' names on the back of shirts when the season resumes on Wednesday, June 17.
The move will be in place for the first 12 games of the season to "show solidarity" with the movement, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25.
However, Mr Bradley criticised the move, comparing the situation to when FIFA banned the home nations from wearing a poppy in 2017 - before reversing the decision.
He called on the Premier League to continue supporting movements like 'Kick It Out' and urged the organisation to "read the small print".
He said: "FIFA recently banned the home nations from wearing a poppy on their shirts because it was deemed 'too political'.
"Yet [The Premier League] have chosen to support a movement that are attacking police officers and war memorials.
"I confess that I am deeply disappointed with this decision.
"Why not continue to support Kick It Out - an organisation who do amazing work fighting racism in sport and do it in a sensible and peaceful way - rather than backing those who aim to 'dismantle capitalism and British institutions'?
"Black Lives Matter are setting the good work that great campaigns like 'Show Racism The Red Card' have done back by decades.
"Has [the Premier League] read the small print of what it's backing?
"I assume this gesture is entirely well meant, but in practice it is actually supporting a movement that wants to defund the police.
"The same police officers that keep fans safe at Premier League games. This is not clever."
As part of the move, a Black Lives Matter badge will feature on all playing shirts for the rest of the season alongside a badge thanking NHS staff for their work during the coronavirus outbreak.
Former England, Newcastle and Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas, who made 280 Premier League appearances between 2002 and 2013, hopes the campaign for change continues beyond those first 12 games.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he said: "It's brilliant that all the clubs and the players have come together and said that this is what they want.
"I'm all for it in terms of the representation and for each club and player to be doing it. But I think the question on most people's lips is: what next?
"What about the week after? Does it just fade out and it's 'OK, we did our little bit and it's gone now'. Or are we actually going to see some real change within our game, our own house?"
