A 14-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and bailed after a Coventry supporter appeared to mock Sunderland fans over the death of Bradley Lowery during the Premier League match between the sides on Saturday.
Sunderland fan Lowery captured the hearts of the football world during his battle with neuroblastoma – a rare and aggressive type of childhood cancer. He died at the age of six in 2017.
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A video emerged on Saturday of a young supporter in the home end holding up a picture of Lowery on his phone and pointing to the screen while smirking. He was holding the screen towards the Sunderland fans in the away end.
A West Midlands Police statement on Tuesday said: “A teenage boy arrested on suspicion of a public order offence in Coventry has been bailed with conditions.”
Police confirmed on Sunday that a 14-year-old boy had handed himself in while they investigated the incident, which took place at the Coventry Building Society Arena during Saturday’s 3-1 win.
Lowery’s mother, Gemma, issued a statement through the Bradley Lowery Foundation on Sunday. She said her “beautiful boy” Bradley “deserves to be remembered with love, not hate”.
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“To see such a beautiful memory used in such a cruel way really does make my heart hurt,” she added. “We are a football-loving family who follow Sunderland home and away. I’m all for football banter, but surely mocking a child who died from cancer is not banter?
“I hope the club takes appropriate action and the young lad’s family help him understand how hurtful his actions were. I don’t want hatred directed towards him, so please please don’t, just for him to learn from this.”
In their statement on Sunday, West Midlands Police had added: “We understand the upset and outrage this video has caused in the community and to the victim’s family and our officers are keeping them up to date with the progress of our investigation and working closely alongside both football clubs.”
Coventry said they were aware of the social media footage and added: “The club does not tolerate offensive behaviour and will liaise with the relevant authorities to determine the appropriate course of action.”
