A man who allegedly made racist monkey gestures towards a black footballer during a local derby match has been found dead just hours later.
The Chester FC supporter was spotted on camera apparently performing a gesture towards Warrington Town player Bohan Dixon after a teammate had scored.
Objects were also thrown onto the pitch during ugly scenes at the Cal.Delivery Stadium during the National League North fixture in front of 2,296 fans on Saturday.
Chester initially said it was ‘angry and dismayed at an alleged instance of racism’, and would share its video and photographic evidence with Cheshire Police.
The club added: ‘Racism has no place in sport or society, and anyone found to have displayed such behaviour will receive an indefinite ban from attending matches.’
Chester also condemned ‘the actions of a minority who are unable to behave responsibly’ and said the side now faced a Football Association investigation.
But then in a shocking development, the club later revealed ‘it is with sadness Chester FC has been made aware of the tragic death of the individual involved’ and ‘the immediate thoughts of everyone at the club are with his family and friends.’
Cheshire Police confirmed the man was reported to have died yesterday at an address in Flint, North Wales – and there were no suspicious circumstances.
The incident happened when Dixon was celebrating his team’s opening goal in front of the 900 Chester fans after Connor Woods had scored from the penalty spot.
The goal came in the 73rd minute, but Warrington captain Josh Amis was then sent off for violent conduct and Harrison Burke scored an equaliser for Chester in the 85th.
The 1-1 result left Warrington in 18th place in the 24-team league, three points above the relegation zone. Chester are now in seventh, just within the play-off places.
The non-league clubs are separated by only 20 miles and the attendance was believed to have been a Warrington record for a regular league fixture.
Dixon, 35, spent six seasons with Warrington before leaving in February to join Macclesfield Town – but he then returned to Warrington over the summer.
The identity of the deceased fan or his cause of death have not been confirmed.
A Cheshire Police spokeswoman told : ‘During the match between Warrington FC and Chester FC on Saturday, police were made aware of a racially aggravated public order offence.
‘The suspect was identified and was due to be spoken to at a later date about the matter.
‘Sadly, the man was reported to have died at an address in Flint on Sunday, December 1. There are no suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.’
The force added that the matter had been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) ‘in line with standard procedure’.
has contacted the IOPC and Chester FC for comment.