Wednesday 15 October 2014 13:06, UK
Greater Manchester Police are investigating death threats made to banned Wigan rugby league player Ben Flower in a series of abusive Twitter remarks.
The remarks were posted on an account Tuesday evening, directed to Flower, who was sent off in Saturday's Super League Grand Final and handed a six-month ban from the sport after appearing in front of a Rugby Football League disciplinary hearing in Leeds.
Flower stunned the 70,000 crowd at Old Trafford and millions watching on television when he landed a punch on Lance Hohaia while the St Helens stand-off was motionless on the ground just two minutes into the Grand Final.
The suspension means that Flower will miss 13 matches, including Wigan's World Club Series clash with Brisbane Broncos in February, and is the second heaviest in the history of Super League, behind that imposed on the late Terry Newton, who was given an initial three-month and 10-game ban in 2005, but that was extended to seven months when his appeal was rejected.
Greater Manchester Police stated on Twitter: "We've been made aware of abusive social media activity about the Rugby League Grand Final. Please be reassured that we are looking into this."
Meanwhile, St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus has called for Wales international Flower to be given support during his period of exile.
"Whilst serving his ban it is critical that Ben is now provided all due personal and professional support," McManus said. "His rehabilitation is now paramount.
"During the period of his ban he will be extremely vulnerable emotionally. We must assist him in any way that we can and accept him back into the sport.
"There is a person behind the player, and I am reliably informed by all that it is a good one. He must know that from all. Lance Hohaia certainly feels that way towards him also."
Wales coach John Kear, who was denied Flower's services for the forthcoming European Championship matches against Scotland, Ireland and France because he is to be best man at the wedding of his Wigan and Wales team-mate Gil Dudson, also backed the 26-year-old to bounce back.
"I believe it can be a massive learning curve for him," Kear said. "I think he will be a better man and a better player for it."
Flower's former Wigan team-mate Sam Tomkins is equally confident the player will have the resilience to come back strongly.
"Ben's a strong character," Tomkins said. "I'm sure he'll let rugby do the talking.
"What's done is done and I'm sure he'll be looking to move on. I'm sure he'll get some stick off opposing fans and things, but other people have had that."