LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) A 31-year-old man has been charged with a public order offense for allegedly using an image of cancer victim Bradley Lowery to taunt Sunderland fans during a Championship match against Sheffield on Wednesday.
Bradley, a beloved Sunderland fan, passed away in 2017. Following Sunderland’s 3-0 victory over Sheffield on Wednesday, a photo circulated on social media showing a man mocking opposition supporters by holding up a picture of the late six-year-old.
The accused, Dale Houghton from Rotherham, was arrested by South Yorkshire Police on September 30 and is set to appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on October 2.
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The police have also applied for a football banning order against Houghton.
A police statement regarding Houghton’s arrest stated: “A man has been charged after we received reports that two men had displayed an image of six-year-old Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery, who tragically lost his life to cancer… Dale Houghton, 31, from Rotherham, was arrested yesterday (Saturday, September 30) and has now been charged with a Section 4a Public Order offense.”
A 27-year-old man, also arrested in connection with the incident, has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.
Sheffield Wednesday released a statement condemning the actions and offering an apology to Bradley Lowery’s family.
