Football fans detained by police for allegedly mocking death of Leicester City chairman
Two football fans were detained by police after allegedly making offensive gestures towards Leicester[1] supporters. The two Millwall fans were ejected from The Den during Leicester City’s 3-2 win in the third round of the FA Cup. Footage posted on social media appeared to show two men making hand gestures in the direction of the away fans during the FA Cup third-round tie on Saturday.
They were seemingly mocking the death of former Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who died in a helicopter crash[2] in 2018. A photograph posted nine minutes later on Twitter appeared to show the men being kicked out of the ground by security, the Mirror reports.[3] The Metropolitan Police confirmed to The Mirror that “two men were detained and ejected from the ground”. A spokesperson said: “They will each be summonsed for an offence under the Public Order Act.
Enquiries are ongoing to locate a third man in connection with the incident.” Leicester City refused to comment when contacted by The Mirror, while Millwall are yet to respond. Srivaddhanaprabha died alongside four other people when the helicopter he was travelling in crashed on October 27, 2018.
Pilot Eric Swaffer, his partner Izabela Lechowicz, ex-Thai beauty queen Nursara Suknamai and Srivaddhanaprabha’s employee Kaveporn Punpare all lost their lives in the tragic accident.
“Anyone who engages in making offensive gestures or ‘tragedy chanting’ faces the risk of arrest if caught,” Pc David Stevens of Leicestershire Police said. “Such behaviour has no place in football and we will continue to work with the club to identify those committing such offences.”
References
- ^ Leicester (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ died in a helicopter crash (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ the Mirror reports. (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Loughborough professor says society needs to stop pressuring women to have children (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)