THE MOTHER of an 11-year-old pictured with a can of beer has hit back after the image went viral on social media.

It emerged on Twitter over the weekend and purportedly showed a young Bradford (Park Avenue) fan, on the day of their away game at local rivals Farsley Celtic.

The youngster is holding a can of San Miguel, with an attached caption stating "Farsley away. Some do."

The tweet was sent out by "reillyba_", a Huddersfield fan, with the photo attached.

It said: "Bradford park avenue under 4's ont piss as per, can someone call social services nonetheless."

The user said he saw the original photo on a Instagram story by a friend in Bradford on Saturday, December 28.

He added: "Seen as it was such an absurd photo I put it up on twitter for my mates to see, next thing it's viral."

More than four thousand people shared the tweet, which also received close to 25,000 likes.

The picture sparked a mixture of amusement and concern, and raises questions over the potential issue of young people being dragged into yob culture.

One commenter said: "Want to laugh but also kind of concerned."

But, the mother of the child in the picture - who wished to remain anonymous - has expressed her outrage and upset at the reaction.

She said: "I'm mortified, I've cried nearly all of Christmas over it.

"He's got a respectful family and he's gone with his friends - he goes all the time.

"I'm at work at the moment and I work really hard.

"He's never been in trouble - with his school, with the police, or for any anti-social behaviour."

The mother also wanted to set the record straight about the beer can and the dangers of the online world twisting reality.

She said: "I would like it to be known that there was no alcohol in the can and by no means would I ever endorse underage drinking.

"He was messing about with his friends, it was a joke.

"I've never had a problem with him being involved in football.

"That picture was a joke and he's not had one sip of drink.

"It was an empty can.

"I picked him up just after that and he hadn't had anything.

"I would never condone underage drinking.

"I just don't want it to go on any longer.

"He's been crying, thinking he might go to jail."

"I think this is a lesson to be learnt about social media misinterpreting pictures."

The youngster did appear in a video for a football clothing brand on Monday, December 30.

It showed him revealing a code for 20 per cent off clothing on the company's website.

But his mother reiterated that he simply loves the sport.

She said: "He's really involved with football.

"It's a style of clothing."

Another major football clothing brand shared the picture on its own Instagram page on Monday morning.

That received just over 13,000 likes and had 200 comments on it.

The T&A approached Bradford (Park Avenue), but the club declined to comment.