Police arrest 14-year-old boy following Bradley Lowery taunt at Coventry match
Black Cats fan Bradley captured the hearts of the football world when he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer.
A 14-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and subsequently bailed after social media footage appeared to show a Coventry fan taunting Sunderland supporters about Bradley Lowery.
Black Cats fan Bradley captured the hearts of the football world when he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer. He died at the age of six in 2017.
Social media footage showed a fan holding up a photo of Bradley during Saturday’s Premier League match between Coventry and Sunderland.
West Midlands Police said in a statement on Tuesday: “A teenage boy arrested on suspicion of a public order offence in Coventry has been bailed with conditions.”
On Sunday Bradley’s mum Gemma Lowery issued an emotional statement through the Bradley Lowery Foundation, urging people not to “direct any hate, threats or harm” towards the teenage boy or his family.
She said her “beautiful boy” Bradley “deserves to be remembered with love, not hate”, adding: “To see such a beautiful memory (the photo) used in such a cruel way really does make my heart hurt.
“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.
“Behind that photograph is a little boy who was loved beyond measure and a family who miss him every day.”
The police said on Sunday the boy had handed himself in.
In that statement, the police 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.”