Sheffield Wednesday condemn ‘deplorable behaviour’ as fans appear to mock child who died of cancer

Sheffield Wednesday and the police are investigating after two fans appeared to mock a young Sunderland fan who died of cancer in 2017.

Two people were pictured holding up a phone showing the face of six-year-old Bradley Lowery as they laughed after the club’s 3-0 Championship defeat to Sunderland.

Bradley was a mascot for England and Sunderland and struck up a close friendship with striker Jermain Defoe, who called him his “best mate”.

Read more: Police contact Bradley Lowery’s family after fans appear to taunt him

He suffered from the rare childhood cancer neuroblastoma, which was diagnosed at the age of 18 months.

Sheffield Wednesday said they have launched an investigation with South Yorkshire Police.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the club wrote: “We strongly condemn this outrageous and totally deplorable behaviour. We can only apologize for the undoubted distress caused to Bradley’s family and friends.”

South Yorkshire Police confirmed they were investigating “public order offences” in a post on X, directly below a widely shared image of the two fans. They were working with the club to identify the men and appealed for anyone with information to get in touch.

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The Bradley Lowery Foundation, a charity set up by Bradley’s mother, shared the photos on Facebook, saying they were “so sad for me to see”.

“Whatever happened to ‘cancer has no colors’ much less respect for a family who lost a child to cancer.”

Sheffield Wednesday FC Women’s Supporters Group launched a fundraiser for the charity in response to the photos.

“We will not let the abhorrent actions of a few define our club,” they wrote on X.