Footballer Ederson Moraes on picture with Tommy Robinson: 'I had no idea who he was'
After posing for a photo with the far-right activist, the Manchester City star says he "doesn't support this guy or his ideas".
Wednesday 1 May 2019 11:34, UK
Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson Moraes has denied that he supports Tommy Robinson after a photo of him posing with the former English Defence League leader was posted online.
A member of Robinson's team shared a photo of the pair in Manchester, and claimed that the far-right activist had the 25-year-old footballer's "full support".
But Moraes, who also plays for Brazil's national squad, hit back on Twitter and said he "had no idea who he was".
The star wrote: "People have made me aware of who this guy is.
"I definitely not support this guy or his ideas. He just stopped me for a picture. I had no idea who he was (do not be a liar)."
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is standing as a candidate in next month's European Parliament elections in the North West.
The anti-Islam campaigner is a former member of the British National Party and led the EDL for more than four years.
In 2015, Robinson was involved in the development of the British arm of Pegida, a German-based group opposed to what they describe as the "Islamisation" of the West.
Robinson's appointment as an adviser to UKIP leader Gerard Batten recently prompted a spate of resignations from the party.