In the aftermath of the Sheffield Wednesday v Sunderland football match at Hillsborough on Friday evening, a 31-year-old man, Dale Houghton from Rotherham, has been charged with a Section 4a Public Order offence. This follows reports that two men displayed an image of the late six-year-old Sunderland fan, Bradley Lowery, who tragically lost his life to cancer.
Houghton was arrested on Saturday, and he has since been remanded in custody. He is scheduled to appear before Sheffield Magistrates’ Court tomorrow morning (Monday, October 2). Additionally, authorities have applied for a football banning order in connection with the incident.
In a related development, a 27-year-old man, also apprehended on Saturday, has been released on police bail pending further inquiries. The incident has sparked public concern, given the sensitive nature of displaying an image related to Bradley Lowery, a young fan whose story touched many in the football community.