Two men have been arrested after a young football fan who died from cancer was mocked at a match.
South Yorkshire Police says a 27-year-old and a 31-year-old man are being held on suspicion of outraging public decency and remain in police custody.
The incident happened during Sheffield Wednesday’s clash with Sunderland on Friday.
Bradley Lowery with Jermain Defoe
Two people were pictured holding up a phone appearing to show Bradley Lowery’s face as they laughed following the club’s 3-0 Championship defeat to Sunderland.
Bradley’s parents Carl and Gemma Lowery were visited by Durham Police after receiving multiple calls and messages regarding the photos.
The young Sunderland fan suffered from rare childhood cancer neuroblastoma that was diagnosed when he was 18 months old, and he died in 2017 at the age of six.
In a statement after the incident, the Bradley Lowery Foundation had thanked Sheffield Wednesday for their quick condemnation of the incident – and the support shown by fans.
Mrs Lowery said: “Like we always say, cancer has no colours – and as we all know it can affect anyone at any time.”
Sheffield Wednesday had criticised the “outrageous and utterly deplorable behaviour”, adding: “We can only apologise for the undoubted distress caused to Bradley’s family and friends.”
Bradley was a mascot for England and Sunderland and struck up a close friendship with striker Jermain Defoe, who called him his “best mate”.