Two Southampton fans were arrested by police for appearing to mock the death of Emiliano Sala during Cardiff City’s first match since the footballer’s body was identified.
The two Saints fans were spotted making airplane gestures just days after the 28-year-old’s footballer’s body was recovered from the downed aircraft at the bottom of the English Channel. Sala’s body was formally identified on Thursday. His pilot David Ibbotson’s body is still missing.
Southampton wrote in a statement: ‘Southampton Football Club can confirm that two fans were detained and had their details taken by police during out match against Cardiff City on Saturday.
‘The Club will continue to work with Hampshire Police to identify any individuals deemed to have made indecent gestures towards Cardiff supporters.
Keep an eye on the bloke in the middle, making plane expressions just two days after the Emiliano Sala confirmation, glad to say they both got ejected but had to shame them #CCFC #SOUCAR pic.twitter.com/nF57gpFMDh
— . (@ccfcben) February 9, 2019
‘Such behaviour has no place in our game and will not be tolerated at St Mary’s. ‘The club will be taking an extremely firm stance against anyone involved and intends to ban those supporters identified.’ Hampshire Police’s Football United account said on Twitter: ‘Sad to say more than one arrest today of Saints fans for appalling gestures towards Cardiff fans, we will be working closely with Southampton to prevent this behaviour at football.’ The detained men face three-year banning orders from the club.