Sky Sports are reviewing their usage of fan footage and have urged staff to be ‘more vigilant’ after an England supporter was shown on live television appearing to snort a powder.
Mail Sport understands bosses at the station emailed workers on Monday morning following the incident, which saw the bearded man perform the act as hundreds of fans in Newcastle’s Times Square celebrated Jude Bellingham’s stunning, injury-time overhead kick against Slovakia.
They have been informed that company policy will now be re-evaluated – and that a more stringent approach will be taken in future when shooting live crowd scenes.
As the camera rolled around the joyous crowd last night the individual, dressed in black, appeared to hold up a spoon with white powder on top, before pressing the side of his nose and inhaling.
He then appeared to put the spoon in his mouth before bouncing around and clapping his hands as delighted fans belted out England supporters’ anthem Sweet Caroline.
An England supporter at a fan event in Newcastle was caught on live television putting a mystery powder up his nose and into his mouth
The clip has been posted on social media and viewed hundreds of thousands of times.
One source, who did not wish to be named, believes officials may be trying to pre-empt any probe by watchdog Ofcom and illustrate that they are taking the matter seriously.
Should complaints be forthcoming, it is thought that there may well be sympathy for Sky Sports, given they were filming a live event and could not be reasonably held responsible for the man’s actions.
The footage was shown pre-watershed on Sky Sports News at 6.57pm as live shots were aired from various fan zones across the UK, with ex-Three Lions boss Sam Allardyce discussing Bellingham’s dramatic equaliser.
As the ecstatic crowd danced and broke out into a rendition of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, the fan (circled), dressed in black, appeared to snort a mystery substance
The Three Lions supporter seemed to be holding something else in his other hand which he digs his spoon into
Production teams have been told to be more vigilant when using footage of fans in future.
Mail Sport has contacted Northumbria Police for comment. England had appeared set for a thoroughly embarrassing Euros exit in Gelsenkirchen, having trailed 1-0 to Slovakia.
But in the 95th minute Bellingham’s heroics took the last-16 game into extra-time where Harry Kane headed a winner to set up a quarter-final with Switzerland in Dusseldorf on Saturday.