A man who allegedly made racist monkey gestures towards a black footballer during a local derby was found dead just hours later.
The Chester FC supporter was seen on camera apparently gesturing towards Warrington Town player Bohan Dixon after a team-mate scored.
Objects were also thrown onto the field during ugly scenes at Cal.Delivery Stadium during the National League North game in front of 2,296 fans on Saturday.
Video footage was then circulated on social media and discussed among fans and one of them posted an image claiming to be of the man, who has not been identified.
Chester initially said he was “angry and shocked by an alleged case of racism” and would share his 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 behavior will be banned indefinitely from attending matches.”
Chester also condemned “the actions of a minority who cannot behave responsibly” and said the team now faces an investigation by the Football Association.
But then, in a shocking development, the club revealed this morning “it is with sadness that Chester FC have been informed 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 they were “due to speak to the man at a later date” before he died yesterday in Flint, North Wales, in no suspicious circumstances.
A man among Chester FC fans was seen on camera making an alleged monkey gesture towards Warrington Town player Bohan Dixon after his team scored on Saturday.
The man could allegedly be seen making racist monkey gestures after the goal.
The man was among 900 Chester fans at Warrington Town’s stadium on Saturday.
The incident occurred when Dixon was celebrating his team’s first goal in front of 900 Chester fans after Connor Woods scored from the penalty spot.
The goal came in the 73rd minute, but Warrington captain Josh Amis was sent off for violent conduct and Harrison Burke scored Chester’s equalizer in the 85th minute.
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 place, just inside the play-off places.
The non-league clubs are only 20 miles apart and the attendance is believed to have been a Warrington record for a regular league match.
Liverpool-born Dixon, 35, spent six seasons with Warrington before leaving in February to join Macclesfield Town, but then returned to Warrington in the summer.
The Chester FC fan was seen on camera appearing to make a gesture towards Warrington Town player Bohan Dixon (file image)
Chester FC’s initial tweet from yesterday regarding the incident of alleged racism
A new tweet posted by Chester FC this morning confirmed that the fan had died.
The incident occurred at the Cal.Delivery Stadium in Warrington on Saturday (file photo)
A Cheshire Police spokeswoman told MailOnline: “During the match between Warrington FC and Chester FC on Saturday 30 November, police were informed of a racially aggravated public order breach.
‘The suspect was identified and I was to speak to him later 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 accordance with standard procedure”.
MailOnline has contacted the IOPC for comment.
Chester FC said it had nothing further to say on the matter.
The cause of death of the deceased fan has not been confirmed.