Harold Shipman at NRL game as ‘Fan In The Stands’ scheme abused
- Killer of 15 seen among cardboard cut-outs sent in by rugby fans as part of league’s ‘Fan in the Stands’ scheme
- One Twitter user tried to send image of murderous doctor to German Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach
There was controversy in the stands at the NRL game between the Penrith Panthers and Newcastle Knights on Sunday despite the game being played behind closed doors in the Sydney suburb.
A cardboard cut-out of notorious British killer Harold Shipman was spotted in the stands. The GP, known as “Doctor Death”, was charged with murdering 15 patients under his care in 2000 but is believed to have been involved in potentially hundreds more deaths.
Eagle eyed fans spotted Shipman’s image among the cardboard cut-outs put in place at Penrith Stadium as part of the NRL’s “Fan in the Stands” campaign.
Supporters were invited to watch from the stands even with no fans allowed in the ground by sending in their photographs and paying AU$22 (US$14.80). Several fans chose to send in photographs of themselves or even their dogs but one sent in Shipman.
“We are reviewing the vetting process for Fan in the Stand,” an NRL spokesman said, as reported by The Guardian. “The weekend was a trial run and trials are designed to iron out issues.”
