Coventry investigate Bradley Lowery taunt after Sunderland match

Coventry are investigating footage connected to an incident during their Premier League fixture against Sunderland. The clip was widely shared on social media after Coventry's 1-3 win on Saturday, and it appeared to show a young spectator in the home end of the Coventry Building Society Arena smirking while pointing at a picture of Bradley Lowery on his phone. Coventry vs Sunderland is the match at the centre of the case.

Coventry's response

The club said it was aware of the footage and would liaise with the relevant authorities. In a statement reported by independent.co.uk, Coventry City FC said: "The club does not tolerate offensive behaviour and will liaise with the relevant authorities to determine the appropriate course of action."

Metro also carried Gemma Lowery's response. She said: "My beautiful boy deserves to be remembered with love, not hate. Yesterday, a Coventry fan used a photograph of Bradley to taunt Sunderland supporters." She added that mocking a child who died from cancer was not banter, and said she hoped the club would take appropriate action.

Bradley Lowery died aged six in 2017 after a battle with neuroblastoma. His mother said the photograph used in the footage was one of her favourites, which is why the incident has cut so deep.

The clip itself was short, but the reaction was immediate. Metro described it as a five-second clip, and the speed at which it spread online has pushed Coventry into a public response they will have to handle carefully.

The only firm point for now is that Coventry have opened an investigation and have not said more than that. What happens next depends on the club's review and any action taken by the relevant authorities.