Premier League and Championship clubs across the Midlands will unite to pay tribute to Birmingham City fan Arthur Labinjo-Hughes – who was tragically killed aged six last year – during their matches this weekend.
Games involving Blues, Aston Villa, West Brom and Wolverhampton Wanderers will all hold an applause in the sixth minute for Arthur.
Arthur’s stepmother Emma Tustin, 32, was handed a life sentence for murder on Thursday – which is a minimum term of 29 years – while the boy’s father Thomas Hughes, 29, was given 21 years for manslaughter.
Birmingham City are away to Millwall at The Den on Saturday afternoon, and as well as the sixth-minute applause, Blues players are also planning to wear warm-up tops in tribute to Arthur.
An applause will also take place as Wolves host Liverpool at Molineux at the same time – with both matches kicking off at 3pm – while West Brom travel to Coventry City in a Saturday lunchtime kick-off. Villa then host Leicester on Sunday at 4.30pm.
Birmingham City are arranging a number of tributes to remember the life of Arthur when they next play at home against Cardiff City on 11 December.
The club announced plans for a flag of remembrance to be installed in the lower Kop at St Andrews, while two memorial bricks will also be cemented into the stadium.
A Blues statement finished: “The club remains deeply saddened by his passing and is in the process of exploring further ways to support children at risk.
“Rest in Peace, Arthur, may you always have an angel by your side.”
In response to Villa’s tweet confirming their plans for a sixth-minute applause, captain Tyrone Mings said: “I struggle to even read the details of this horrifying story but I’m so glad we are doing this.”
Meanwhile, a heart-breaking video circulating on social media showed Arthur speaking of his plans to one day play for Liverpool and Tottenham.
Arthur died from a head injury at his home in Solihull in June 2020, and was subjected to a campaign of abuse at the hands of Tustin and Hughes before he was killed.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3onPxAV
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