“I Criticized”- Rio Ferdinand Offers Sympathy To Gareth Southgate After Fans’ ‘Plastic Cups’ Attack On Him & England WAGs

Soccer can be a two-edged sword sometimes. Usually getting the best out of the determined, it can also result in frustration and even get on your nerves. With England arriving at Euro 2024 as favorites, the team has been put under constant pressure by fans.

Despite qualifying for the knockouts, its coach Gareth Southgate was on the receiving end of some negative behavior by fans who threw beer cups at the English manager, and also the players’ families. Subsequently, this resulted in former England star Rio Ferdinand, who was also critical of Southgate, calling out the fans for their anger.

Speaking on his podcast Ferdinand feels that English fans are getting going overboard with their approach toward the coach and expressed his support for him. He stated, “I saw Southgate’s interview and I have to say like for all the criticism that he’s getting and I’ve criticized him as well for his interviews.” “We’ve become now a country that is very kind of almost entitled. And we’re expecting that we should be this that and the other that it’s now giving us a bit of entitlement,” citing the unreal demands from the fans.

He further stated, “And I saw them and actually felt sorry for him and the team walking round after that game and he was getting booed by sections of the fans and gestures and bad signs and beer cups being thrown over the other fans towards him,” taking the side of the 53-year-old.

Fans were seen furious with the Three Lions team after their draw against Slovenia in the last group game. Hence, they were seen booing him as he went to applaud them after the game. However, things got uglier after they started throwing beer cups, but Southgate continued his walk. However, news further revealed that even the dear ones of the players were affected.

Family member was struck by mug amid Gareth Southgate outrage: claims

Defender of the England team, Ezri Konsa, revealed that his brother was on the receiving end of the havoc too, apart from Gareth Southgate. He stated that his brother and family members of a few others were also hit, and the projectiles were ‘coming from all angles.’ This resulted in the players being concerned about their kids and checking on them constantly. However, Konsa said that they did not care much about it since they had an idea of such incidents through club soccer.

Meanwhile, the manager said that he needed the fans to be with the team, implying that it was unfair for them to give such a reception despite qualifying at the top of their table. England haven’t lost a game, but Southgate was under scrutiny as the unit was unable to score many goals despite possessing players like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. Even Ferdinand took a dig at him for keeping players like Cole Palmer and Kobbie Mainoo on the bench. Nevertheless, Southgate’s unit will be favorites against Slovakia in the round of 16 and will try to crush the notion about the unit.