Sheffield Wednesday are to issue lifetime bans to any fans caught mocking the medical emergency in the away end full of West Brom fans.
The Owls have confirmed in a statement on Monday (30th September) that have already issued one to an individual responsible for an “abhorrent” social media post after a West Brom supporter died following a medical emergency at Hillsborough on Saturday.
A social media user was arrested after a post appearing to mock the medical emergency as well as the Hillsborough disaster.
A post on social media from an account named Richard Crisp following the fixture read: “Another one to add to the Leppings Lane tally. What are we at now, 98? When we get to 100 we’ll have a party. Up the Owls.”
In a statement on Monday, South Yorkshire Police said: “A man is currently in police custody following reports of malicious communications on social media.
“It is alleged that malicious communications were shared following the death of a man during a football match on Saturday 28 September. The man aged 55 was arrested on suspicion of malicious communications and remains in police custody.”
Are you aware that this is one of your employees and fans! #RichardCrisp
Do you condone what he says or are you going to take stiff action against him.
Absolutely sickening and disgraceful.
FYI my brother is 1 of the 97 #Hillsborough pic.twitter.com/VgRvsR3tti
— Lou (@LOU15E_97) September 29, 2024
The Wates Construction Group, who Crisp had been an employee of, said he had been sacked.
They wrote: “We can confirm that Richard Crisp is no longer employed by the Wates Group.
“The comments he made over the weekend are unacceptable and completely at odds with our values as a company. We offer our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by the tragedy at the West Bromwich Albion game this weekend and to all those who lost loved ones at Hillsborough.”
Crisp has also been banned from Hillsborough Golf Club, where he was a member.
We would like to send our condolences to the family and friends of the West Brom fan who suffered a medical emergency and died at the recent match with Sheffield Wednesday.
2/2
— Hillsborough Golf Club ⛳ (@Hillsborough_GC) September 29, 2024
Fans are also urging the club to take action over this individual, seen in the video below…
Another scumbag mocking the fan who lost his life. Time to make someone famous again.. scumbag #WBAFC pic.twitter.com/2BFUFCUogH
— WEST BROM FAN TV (@ALBIONFANTV) September 30, 2024
CLUB STATEMENT:
Sheffield Wednesday can confirm a lifetime ban from all club activities and premises for the individual responsible for an abhorrent social media post.
The post was relative to the tragic passing of West Bromwich Albion supporter Mark Townsend following a medical emergency at Hillsborough on Saturday.
The individual has been charged by the police and will face the full force of the law.
We condemn absolutely this outrageous behaviour and underline our zero tolerance policy towards unlawful activity on all social media platforms.
Our thoughts remain with the loved ones of Mr Townsend and the wider West Bromwich Albion community at this incredibly difficult time.
Meanwhile, the Guardian, West Brom have written to the EFL asking that it investigate events surrounding the death of 57 year old supporter Mark Townsend during the Championship fixture at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
Mark Townsend, 57, died after a medical emergency in the stands. A number of West Brom fans tried to bring attention to get some treatment for Townsend.
Albion say they will work with Sheffield Wednesday, who have since begun their own investigation, while the West Midlands outfit have also written to the league to voice their concerns.
They are understood to believe that a coroner’s inquest will be necessary to establish an accurate account of what transpired.
Townsend’s brother, Steve, said in a post via Twitter that his heart had been “truly broken” by his brother’s death, and claimed paramedics had taken 15 minutes to reach the top tier of the West Stand where away fans are stationed.
“My son had to watch my brother pass away and lose an Uncle, and is left with those memories, I have had to break the news to my parents and his wife,” Townsend had written.
Attempts to give CPR to Townsend were initiated by a West Brom fan, Chelsea, who was an off-duty paramedic, after there was no immediate response from on-site medical teams.
Other complaints were made on the lack of an accessible defibrillator, and that attempts to get officials to stop the match to speed up treatment went unheeded.
A Sheffield Wednesday spokesperson said: “First and foremost, the thoughts of everyone at Sheffield Wednesday remain with the loved ones of Mr Townsend and the wider West Bromwich Albion community.
“The club continue to liaise with West Bromwich Albion and all relevant parties as we collectively establish the full circumstances regarding this tragic loss of life. We echo absolutely the request of West Bromwich Albion that Mr Townsend’s family are allowed to grieve privately.”
West Brom plan to pay tribute paid to Townsend for the game at home to Middlesbrough on Tuesday night. with black armbands to be worn and supporters invited to join a 57th-minute round of applause.
The EFL told the Guardian that it had received the correspondence from West Brom and would work with both clubs to gather information and observations, a process it said was customary in the event of such a tragedy.
West Brom supporter appeals for all fans to boycott attending matches at Hillsborough
Twitter users reacted as Sheffield Wednesday say they are to issue lifetime bans to fans caught mocking the medical emergency…
@TheRainbowStand: Handled perfectly. Thank you. Every club has idiots and we know he doesn’t represent your fanbase.
@k3yowl: How in that moment can someone’s first thought be too go on social media and post anything about such a tragedy is beyond me! RIP and condolences to all involved!
@Brett_J89:
Not having a very good start to the week is he that Keyboard warrior…
Had the sack
His football club have banned him for life
his golf club suspended him
Been arrested.
If Carlsberg did Mondays 👌
@danryanbenson: Good riddance to bad rubbish, well done lads. The situation on Saturday still definitely needs a full review from the club though. Could see something was wrong all the way from the Kop pretty swiftly, and it took ages for help to arrive to him. RIP.
@Duzc1972: There is another guy, holding his heart and making an abusive gesture when leaving, not hard to find on social media.
@BurgerSight: Thankyou for your swift dealing of this matter! No fan should go to the football and not return home!
@JordanOwl28: Well in! Baffles me how someone’s mind goes to mocking someone’s death, just a sick fuck
@davo33uk: 👍🏻 we don’t want these types of supporters anywhere near our club 👏🏻 well done on the swift action 💙🦉
@norman_kieron: we all go a game for the same reason – to watch our beloved teams no one should never not return home for once can say proud of my club for handling it so quickly 👏🏻
@SteveLocklin: Absolutely the right decision. Well done on your decisive action. #swfc
@Sean_the_owl: Right decision, well done #SWFC Risk assessments require improvement, @WBA fans said stewards was distort while a fellow Albion fan tried to preserve life. Comms needs to improve to alert paramedics. E.g whistle, pocket fog horn. To alert paramedics there is an medical emergency
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