Coventry fan, 14, hands himself in after Bradley Lowery taunt during Sunderland match

A 14-year-old Coventry City supporter has handed himself in to police after footage appeared to show a fan taunting Sunderland with a photo of the late young supporter Bradley Lowery during a Premier League match. British media reports said the boy came forward after West Midlands police launched an investigation.

Footage circulated on social media from Saturday's match, which Sunderland lost 3-1, appeared to show an individual in the Coventry section pointing to his phone and grinning as he displayed an image of Bradley Lowery.

Lowery died aged six in July 2017. He had suffered from a rare form of cancer which spreads rapidly across the body, and he became known nationally as he accompanied the team on the pitch before matches.

Coventry City said in a statement on Sunday that the club was aware of footage circulating on social media in connection with an incident during its Premier League fixture against Sunderland. The club said it does not tolerate offensive behaviour and will liaise with the relevant authorities to determine the appropriate course of action.

Gemma Lowery, Bradley's mother, issued a statement on Sunday through the Bradley Lowery Foundation, which supports children and families affected by serious illness. She said that as his mother, this breaks her heart, and that behind that photo is a little boy who was loved beyond measure, adding that to see such a beautiful memory used in such a cruel way really does break her heart.

She said she hoped the club would take appropriate action and the young lad's family would help him understand how hurtful his actions were. She emphasised that she did not want hate directed towards the individual but rather that he learn from the incident.

Social media users, however, were enraged by what they called a sickening incident and called for a lifetime ban on the individual.

At the same time, hundreds donated to the Bradley Lowery Foundation over the weekend. One comment accompanying a donation said one bad fan does not represent Coventry City, while another said Bradley had achieved what no one else had — bringing rival fans together.