A 14-year-old boy has handed himself in to West Midlands police after a video shared on social media appeared to show a Coventry supporter taunting Sunderland fans with a photograph of Bradley Lowery during Saturday’s Premier League fixture.
Lowery, a Sunderland supporter, became widely known after being diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer. He died in 2017 at the age of six.
West Midlands police said they had launched a thorough investigation into the footage. Officers said the boy would be spoken to in due course and that they were working with Coventry City and Sunderland while keeping Lowery’s family informed.
Coventry City said it was investigating the incident and would cooperate with the relevant authorities. The club added that it does not tolerate offensive behaviour and would determine the appropriate course of action.
Lowery’s mother, Gemma, described the alleged incident as heartbreaking in a statement issued through the Bradley Lowery Foundation. She said the photograph was one of her favourites because it showed her son smiling during a happy moment.
She said her family supported Sunderland home and away and accepted football banter, but questioned whether mocking a child who had died from cancer could be considered banter. She also asked supporters not to direct hatred towards the boy, saying she hoped he would learn from what had happened.
Gemma said Bradley should be remembered with love rather than hate and thanked those who had defended his memory and supported the family.
Sources: The Guardian Sport.