Richard Crisp, a 55-year-old construction project manager from Hillsborough, has been charged with sending a communication/article of an indecent or offensive nature, South Yorkshire Police said.
Crisp, a supporter of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, posted a comment on the X social media platform in the early hours of Sunday morning making reference to the death of a West Bromwich Albion supporter, Mark Townsend, who died from a medical episode during a match at Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium the previous afternoon. Mr Townsend had been in the Leppings Lane stand of the Stadium, where 97 Liverpool fans died as a result of a crush in 1989.
After receiving complaints, his employer issued a statement: “We can confirm that Richard Crisp is no longer employed by the Wates Group.
“The comments he made over the weekend are unacceptable and completely at odds with our values as a company.
“We offer our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by the tragedy at the West Bromwich Albion game this weekend and to all those who lost loved ones at Hillsborough.â€
Crisp was released on bail ahead of an appearance at Sheffield Magistrates' Court on 14th October 2024.
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