Man charged over online comments about fan death

Mark TownsendImage source, West Bromwich Albion
Image caption,

Mark Townsend died during a match between Sheffield Wednesday and West Bromwich Albion

  • Published

A man has been charged after messages were shared online apparently mocking the death of a man at a Sheffield Wednesday game.

West Brom supporter Mark Townsend died from a medical episode on Saturday, at the Leppings Lane end of Hillsborough Stadium, where Liverpool fans died as a result of a crush in 1989.

A social media account, which has since been deleted, was alleged to have made reference to the 97 victims of the disaster.

Richard Crisp, 55, from Hillsborough, was charged with sending a communication or article of an indecent or offensive nature, South Yorkshire Police said.

He was released on bail ahead of an appearance at Sheffield Magistrates' Court on 14 October, the force added.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here, external.

Related topics