Police investigate Wednesday fan who appeared to mock George Baldock’s death
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South Yorkshire Police are looking into a matter after a social media post seemingly depicted a Sheffield Wednesday supporter making fun of George Baldock's death during the derby match against Sheffield United on Sunday.
Baldock, a former United player who spent seven years with the team, passed away in Athens last month after tragically drowning in a swimming pool.
After the match at Bramall Lane, Wednesday posted on social media, stating: "The club acknowledges the image that is being shared online and strongly condemns this despicable behavior."
"We are collaborating with South Yorkshire Police on a prompt investigation and want to emphasize that there is no room for such unacceptable behavior in either football or society."
In the UK, abusing a tragedy is considered a public order crime and is subject to legal penalties, with a maximum imprisonment of six months.
Baldock signed with the Greek team Panathinaikos this summer after contributing to the Yorkshire club’s two promotions to the Premier League.
The 31-year-old was discovered unresponsive in his swimming pool after his fiancée, who was in the UK, alerted authorities when he didn't pick up his phone.
In heartfelt moments last month at Elland Road, during Sheffield United's first game following Baldock’s passing, a minute of silence transformed into a minute filled with applause and chants. Both clubs had representatives who laid flowers to honor him. Fans displayed flags and shirts adorned with Baldock’s name and image, along with Greek flags, celebrating the country he represented on the international stage, throughout the section dedicated to the Blades supporters.
Sheffield Wednesday, on the other hand, arranged for a moment of applause in honor of the defender and placed flowers at a memorial at their opponents' stadium before an under-21 derby match.
The Championship derby on Sunday was intense, with fans needing to be kept apart by police outside the stadium before the match started to prevent any clashes.
Tyrese Campbell scored shortly after the start of the second half, leading the Blades to a 1-0 victory in the first Steel City derby at Bramall Lane in more than five years.
Campbell's low shot got past Owls goalkeeper James Beadle, which was enough to push the Blades back into the top two positions in the Sky Bet Championship, tying them on points with league leaders Sunderland.
On Wednesday, they didn't manage to pose much of a challenge to the home goalkeeper, Michael Cooper, except for a hopeful late header from Dominic Iorfa. They haven't been able to defeat their city rivals in more than 12 years.
