Police have opened an investigation after a Sheffield Wednesday fan appeared to mock the death of former Sheffield United defender George Baldock during Sunday’s derby match.
Baldock, who spent seven years at Bramall Lane, passed away suddenly last month after he drowned while swimming in a pool at his home in Athens.
In the first Steel City derby since his passing, it was Baldock’s former side who got the better of their rivals with a 1-0 win courtesy of Tyrese Campbell’s second-half strike.
However, that victory was marred on Sunday evening when pictures emerged on social media appearing to show a Wednesday fan holding up his phone towards the home fans with the message ‘Where’s Baldock’ on his screen.
In a statement on social media, Sheffield Wednesday labelled the act as ‘abhorent’ and said South Yorkshire Police had opened an investigation into the incident.
‘The club are aware of an image circulating on social media and roundly condemn this abhorrent act,’ the Championship club said.
‘We are working together with South Yorkshire Police on an immediate investigation and make it absolutely clear that there is no place in football or society for such appalling behaviour.’
Chloe Bannan, wife of Wednesday captain Barry Bannan, also condemned the actions online, saying: ‘That is absolutely abhorrent, and they’re nothing to do with Wednesday.’
Baldock left Sheffield United last summer to join Greek side Panathinaikos but was found unresponsive in his swimming pool by Greek police after his fiancee had failed to make contact with the 31-year-old.
His funeral was held last week, with former teammates Dele Alli, Dean Henderson and Oli McBurnie among those who attended to pay their respects.
Sheffield United paid their own moving tribute to their former player, who helped them win two promotions to the Premier League, when they visited Elland Road to face Leeds United last month.
Tragedy chanting is a public order offence punishable by law in the United Kingdom. Failure to comply with an order can result in a maximum of a 6-month prison sentence and a maximum fine of £5,000.
Last November, another Sheffield Wednesday was given a suspended prison sentence after he mocked the death of a six-year-old Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery who died in 2017.
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