Former Liverpool player Howard Gayle has turned down an MBE nomination.
The 58-year-old became the first black player in Anfield history when he signed professional forms in 1977 and made his debut three years later.
Since retiring from football, treatment Gayle has been involved in anti-racism charity Show Racism the Red Card, which was the reason for his nomination.
But the Toxeth-born winger, who won the 1981 European Cup with Liverpool, revealed on his Facebook page the key reason for shunning the honour.
“Most of you who are on my FB page are aware of the work that I do tackling racism and the work I do for Show Racism A Red Card,” Gayle wrote.
“And for that work yesterday I was nominated for a MBE which unfortunately I had to decline the nomination for the reason that my ancestors would be turning in their graves after how empire and colonialism had enslaved them.
“This is a decision that I have had to make and there will be others who may feel different and would enjoy the attraction of being a Member of the British Empire and those three letters after their name.
“But I feel that It would be a betrayal to all of the Africans who have lost their lives, or who have suffered as a result of Empire.”