Twitter attacks towards Vardy spark police investigation

Leicestershire Police have launched an investigation into a recent string of Twitter abuse aimed towards Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy and his one-year-old-daughter.

The incident came as a result of Vardy's fiancee Rebekah Nicholson posting a picture of their toddler sporting a Foxes shirt prior to Leicester's 1-0 win against Southampton on Sunday.

The abusers, with one being identifiable as a Manchester United fan, made sexual threats towards the child to which Vardy described as "shocking and vile" in a tweet including screen caps of the abuse made on April 3.

Shocking and vile pic.twitter.com/7yGKNythSo

— Jamie Vardy (@vardy7) April 3, 2016

While the tweets would never be indicative of Manchester United fans, the case does highlight a growing concern in football and social media over particular users pushing the use of the word "banter" to ridiculous and unwanted levels. Much like Vardy, Manchester City's Raheem Sterling was the target of racial and and abusive messages from a select group of Liverpool fans in July of 2015.

Leicestershire Police launched their investigation following a formal complaint issued on Sunday evening and issued the following statement Monday afternoon:

"Leicestershire Police is investigating a report of malicious communication being sent via social media.

"A report was made today (Monday 4 April) of an abusive message being received yesterday evening (Sunday 3 April) by a woman on Twitter.

"Enquiries remain ongoing and the force is liaising with Leicester City Football Club."