A 14-year-old boy has turned himself in to West Midlands Police after a video emerged on social media showing a football fan mocking Sunderland with a photograph of Bradley Lowery during a match.
Police Investigation and Club Response
Bradley Lowery was a Sunderland supporter who passed away at the age of six in 2017 following a battle with neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer. West Midlands Police stated that they launched a thorough investigation after becoming aware of the footage circulating online from Saturday’s match.
According to police, the 14-year-old boy handed himself in and will be interviewed by officers in due course. Authorities acknowledged the distress caused to the local community and the victim’s family, noting that officers are maintaining communication with both football clubs involved.
Coventry City announced on Sunday that they were examining the footage, emphasizing that the club maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding offensive behavior and will assist law enforcement and relevant authorities with their inquiries.
Family Statement on the Incident
Gemma Lowery, Bradley’s mother, issued a statement through the Bradley Lowery Foundation, an organization that supports children with cancer. She expressed deep pain over the video, noting that the image used is one of her favorite photographs of her son.
“As Bradley’s mam, this is heartbreaking, especially as it’s one of my favourite photographs of him. Just look at that smile,” she said, recalling how rare those happy moments were during his extensive medical treatments.
She questioned whether mocking a deceased child could be considered standard football banter. Gemma Lowery stated she did not want any hatred directed toward the individual involved, but she expressed hope that the club would take appropriate action and that the boy’s family would help him understand the impact of his actions.
