LONDON — The British police said on Sunday that they were investigating the online publication of what is believed to be a photograph of the body of Emiliano Sala, the Argentine soccer striker who died in a plane crash in the English Channel in January.

“We are aware that a picture reported to be of Mr. Sala’s body has been shared on social media channels and are disgusted that somebody did this,” a spokesman for the Dorset Police in Bournemouth, an English coastal town where Mr. Sala’s body was being held, said on Sunday.

He added that the police were investigating how and when the picture had been taken, and by whom. Reports on Sunday in the British news media said that the photograph had been taken in the mortuary and posted to Twitter. It was later taken down.

“It is clearly a very difficult time for Mr. Sala’s family, and they should not have to endure the additional pain that this shameful act will undoubtedly cause,” the police spokesman said.