A man has been charged in connection with a social media post about Sheffield Wednesday and the West Bromwich Albion fan who died at Hillsborough on Saturday.
The post on X referred to the supporter’s death and the Hillsborough Disaster of 1989, which saw 97 Liverpool fans unlawfully killed.
“A Sheffield man has been charged following malicious communications shared on social media after a man sadly died during the Sheffield Wednesday v West Bromwich Albion fixture on Saturday, 28 September,” a South Yorkshire Police statement said on Monday.
“Richard Crisp, 55, from Hillsborough, is charged with sending communication/article of an indecent or offensive nature.
“He has been released on police bail until his court appearance at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 14 October 2024.”
Sheffield Wednesday have since given the fan a lifetime ban from “all club activities and premises”.
West Brom confirmed on Sunday that supporter Mark Townsend had died following a medical emergency during their game at Wednesday.
Townsend was a 57-year-old West Brom season-ticket-holder and the club have invited fellow supporters to pay their respects to him in the 57th minute of Tuesday’s home fixture against Middlesbrough. West Brom players will also wear black armbands during the game.
We will pay tribute to Baggies fan Mark Townsend during the match against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.
Our thoughts remain with Mark’s loved ones at this desperately sad time. 💙🤍
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) September 29, 2024
(Ed Sykes/Getty Images)
