Sunderland have identified a Birmingham City fan responsible for discharging a flare inside the Stadium of Light during Saturday's 2-1 win against the Blues. Pictures circulating on social media showed the blue flare was thrown down from upper section of the North Stand which houses away fans and had landed on the concourse, apparently next to a Sunderland fan in a wheelchair.
The club has this afternoon released a statement condemning the conduct of 'a small minority of away supporters' during the game, and said it had identified the person responsible from CCTV footage and had handed the evidence over to West Midlands Police. The statement read: "Sunderland AFC condemns the unacceptable conduct of a small minority of away supporters during Saturday's fixture at the Stadium of Light.
"A pyrotechnic device was discharged in the North Stand Upper after Birmingham City opened the scoring in the 29th minute and it was subsequently thrown into the North Stand Lower. The individual responsible for this abhorrent act has been identified by CCTV and all relevant information has now been handed over to West Midlands Police, with Club representatives continuing to directly support those impacted.
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"Fans are reminded that it is a criminal offence to attempt to bring a pyrotechnic device into a football stadium, or to be in possession of a pyrotechnic device at a football match. All identified offenders will be reported to the police and prosecution could result in a permanent criminal record, which may affect employment and education status, and could result in a prison sentence.
"SAFC has a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of anti-social behaviour and remains committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all at the Stadium of Light."
This latest incident is part of an ongoing trend which has seen numerous incidents of objects being thrown by away fans at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland released a statement back in August after Coventry City fans were alleged to have thrown bottles, coins, and flares towards home fans.
And in October, Burnley apologised to the Black Cats after an eight-year-old fan was reportedly hurt by a vape thrown by a Clarets fan. Sunderland have looked at potential measures to reduce the likelihood of objects being thrown, including moving away fans from the upper tier of the North Stand or installing netting, but have decided against either course of action and instead stepped up searches and have banned coins and vapes inside the stadium.
A minority of Black Cats fans have also been criticised for their own conduct away from home, with Sunderland warning in January that ticketing allocations could be cut unless behaviour improves after the club said 'multiple incidents of the use of pyrotechnic devices and fans entering the field of play without permission were reported to the EFL and FA following the club's fixture versus Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium, with additional incidents taking place during Saturday's Emirates FA Cup tie at Shrewsbury Town.'
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