Offensive Exhall football banner probed by police

CBS arena

The two clubs played each other at the CBS Arena Police said they were searching for people who put up an offensive banner aimed at Leicester City fans ahead of their Midlands derby with Coventry. Warwickshire Police said it referenced the helicopter crash which killed the club’s chairman[1] and was hung over the A444 in Exhall on Saturday.

Insp Mark Calvert said the sign, one of several seized in the region, “looked like it had been professionally made”. Both football clubs condemned those who put offensive banners up.[2] The Sky Blues said at the weekend they were working with West Midlands Police to “identify those who created and displayed” such banners over the M69 ahead of the match on Saturday.

A444 in ExhallA444 in Exhall

The banner was put up over the A444 in Exhall, said police

Meanwhile, Insp Calvert said Warwickshire officers were investigating the banner left in their force’s area on School Lane over the A444. “On Saturday we saw shocking behaviour from a very small number of people and I’m sure most football fans will join me in condemning the behaviour,” he said. “We are investigating to establish who was responsible for leaving the sign and will look to take appropriate action.

“The sign looked like it had been professionally made so we’re appealing for anyone who has any knowledge around how it was produced or who placed it over the road to get in touch with us.” The helicopter crash[3] on 27 October 2018 killed Leicester City’s former chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four other people. Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook[4], X and Instagram[5].

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References

  1. ^ the helicopter crash which killed the club’s chairman (www.bbc.co.uk)
  2. ^ who put offensive banners up. (www.bbc.co.uk)
  3. ^ helicopter crash (www.bbc.co.uk)
  4. ^ Facebook (www.facebook.com)
  5. ^ Instagram (www.instagram.com)