Burnley are seeking an explanation from their official betting partner Ladbrokes after the firm tweeted an offensive emoji aimed at players Chris Wood and Charlie Taylor.
Ladbrokes, who are the club’s “official UK betting partner” and sponsor the Cricket Field Stand at Turf Moor, sent the message in the wake of Burnley’s loss to Leeds United in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
The former Leeds player Wood scored a late equaliser as his side twice came back from a goal down, only to lose 5-3 on penalties after extra-time.
Following the game, Ladbrokes addressed a tweet to Wood and Taylor – who also moved to Burnley from Leeds in the summer – followed by an image of a raised middle finger and the words: “Yours sincerely, Leeds fans #LUFC.”
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A spokesman for Burnley said: “The club are aware of the problem. We have contacted Ladbrokes and are awaiting a full response.”
Speaking after the defeat, the Burnley manager, Sean Dyche, said he was disappointed to hear Wood and Taylor being targeted by their former fans, adding: “It’s a strange business, football. Twenty-odd million they’ve made for a club [in transfer fees] and they get slaughtered.
“I don’t know any more how fans react to players, ex-players, all that stuff, but that’s football now. Those two have been fantastic servants to Leeds, if I’m honest. But Woody has done fantastically, walking on to our pitch and scoring, and again in the shootout.”
The Ladbrokes row comes two days after rival firm Paddy Power apologised for offering odds on the late Ugo Ehiogu taking charge of Birmingham City.