West Midlands Police said: “We are investigating after we received a call from a member of the public regarding a threat posted online against a footballer.”
Police are looking into a death threat against Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings. The vile message was posted on Instagram after Mings picked the ball up during his Champions League debut last Wednesday, resulting in a 1-0 defeat to Club Brugge.
A troll posted that the player would not see next year alive and other disgusting comments. The tirade ended : “R.I.P. to you.”
Life-long Villa fan Michael Clarke, 47, from Harborne, saw the insult and reported it to West Midlands Police. The force said: “We are investigating after we received a call from a member of the public regarding a threat posted online against a footballer.”
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Mr Clarke said: “I contacted the police because I thought the comments were vile and made me sick to my stomach. No footballer deserves this kind of threat.
“I felt it was a clear threat to his life and felt I had to report this to the police. I have also contacted AVFC and head of security at Aston Villa as well.”
The incident came when goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez played his goal-kick to Mings, who then picked it up, unknowing that the goal-kick had been taken by the World Cup winner.
The defender placed the ball back inside the six-yard box to allow Martinez to re-take his goal-kick. However, complaints from the Brugge players resulted in referee Tobias Stieler duly awarding the home team a penalty.
The force added: “Anyone with any information should contact us via Live Chat on our website or by calling 101 quoting log number 5280-071124.”
