A BURNLEY fan and his business were yesterday banned from the Turf Moor after posting offensive tweets regarding the death of Cardiff City’s new signing Emiliano Sala.

Estate agent Gary Kay put up the four-letter social media statements after the Clarets beat the Welsh club 2-0 in a crucial relegation dogfight on Saturday.

They referred to the drowning of the Argentinian forward after the light plane carrying him from Nantes to Cardiff to start his new career with the club crashed into the sea off the Channel Islands on January 21.

As well as the ban from Turf Moor, which includes his ‘hotdesk’ office in Burnley FC’s Business Hub, Mr Kay now faces a police investigation into his allegedly ‘malicious’ posts.

The first tweet was an offensive reference to Sala's death. Two further posts on 36-year-old Mr Kay’s business Twitter account repeated the comment with the addition of a highly-offensive four-letter word.

On Sunday, Mr Kay put up a further offensive message before then apologising for his social media remarks the previous day.

He posted: “I would like to take this opportunity to apologise unreservedly for any offence case to Cardiff City fans or anyone affected by the recent post yesterday on this profile and across various social media platforms.”

Yesterday Mr Kay was called into Burnley FC and given an immediate temporary ban from Turf Moor which includes his business.

His season ticket costing more than £300 was cancelled although the club have issued a free replacement to his wife Natalie so she can take their 11-year-old son to home games.

When approached by the Lancashire Telegraph, Mr Kay declined to comment while investigations were continuing.

Police, who have copies of all the offending posts, have launched an inquiry and are expected to interview him shortly.

Officers are also investigating fighting between around a dozen fans of both clubs outside Turf Moor after the match in which a man was apparently knocked unconscious. A video of the disorder has been circulated on social media.

A Clarets spokesman said yesterday: “Burnley Football Club has today taken action against a supporter following a number of offensive social media posts, made following Saturday’s Premier league game v Cardiff City.

“The club, which has a strict zero tolerance policy to any racial, or discriminatory behaviour, strongly condemns the posts.

“We are grateful to supporters for bringing them to the club’s attention and, following a meeting with club officials this morning, the person responsible has been banned with immediate effect from Turf Moor, pending the conclusion of a police investigation.

“Burnley Football Club also continues to liaise with Lancashire Constabulary regarding a post-match incident outside Turf Moor on Saturday, involving both Burnley and Cardiff City supporters.”

A police spokesman said: “We have received a complaint regarding alleged malicious communications made on social media.

“We are aware of the matter and an investigation is on-going.”

Mr Kay, who has deleted the post from his Twitter account @garykay1982 and other social media sites, has a second office for his estate agents business at Colne Business centre on the town’s Exchange Street.

The police spokesman confirmed the force was aware of Saturday’s post-match disorder and investigating it.

No serious injuries were reported to police from the fighting.