Sheffield Wednesday and South Yorkshire police have launched an investigation after a supporter was pictured appearing to hold up an image of the late Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery.
Wednesday have apologised after images circulated online of a fan appearing to display a photo of Lowery on their phone in the stands at Hillsborough during their 3-0 loss in the Championship against Sunderland on Friday. A supporter next to them was also pictured laughing.
Lowery died in 2017 at the age of six after being diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer. Lowery was a Sunderland supporter and formed a friendship with the club’s then-striker Jermaine Defoe. A charitable foundation was set up in Lowery’s name in 2017.
A statement from Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday read: “We are aware of the images circulating and have launched an immediate investigation together with South Yorkshire Police.
“We roundly condemn this outrageous and utterly deplorable behaviour. We can only apologise for the undoubted distress caused to Bradley’s family and friends.”
A post from the Bradley Lowery Foundation on Facebook read: “This is so sad for me to see, whatever happened to cancer has no colours let alone respect for a family that lost their baby to cancer.”
(Photo: George Wood/Getty Images)
