Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United hit back after vile abuse from own supporters

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford received death threats after missing a penalty in his side's 2-2 draw at home to Newcastle United on Saturday.

The centre-forward deleted his Twitter account last week after a video went viral on the site showing some of his worst misses for the club.

Now the Owls have gone public over what they describe as "a repulsive racist message directed at Darren Moore posted on a social media platform following our game against Peterborough United on Friday evening."

Sheffield Wednesday lost the game 4-0, leaving their chances of reaching the League One play-off final all but over. The second leg is at Hillsborough on Thursday.

That too has met with a disproportionate response, and the person involved has been banned from watching the team.

The club declared themselves "appalled", saying in a statement: "We distance ourselves absolutely from this kind of abhorrent behaviour and have taken the appropriate steps by issuing an immediate ban on the individual in question from all SWFC fixtures and events.

"Sheffield Wednesday stand shoulder to shoulder with Darren, the football family and wider society in condemning all forms of discrimination.

"The club will offer our full support to Darren and we are working together with the authorities in ensuring this individual faces the full force of the law as a result of such a cowardly and despicable act."

It mirrors Leeds's response to the treatment of Bamford, saying: "The time for this behaviour to stop is now.

"Those making threats do not reflect our fanbase and are not welcome at our club."

Leeds also banned a fan for life who ran onto the pitch and came into contact with Newcastle manager Eddie Howe at the weekend.

Former Doncaster Rovers player and manager Moore, who also had spells at Bradford City and Barnsley in his days as a centre-back, has been a standard-bearer for black and ethnic minority managers in English football, where they are woefully under-represented.