Matt Le Tissier defends England fans who booed Man Utd captain Harry Maguire and slams Gareth Southgate
Posted by  badge Boss on Mar 31, 2022 - 06:25PM
Matt Le Tissier (left) has criticised Gareth Southgate (right) for defending Harry Maguire (Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Matt Le Tissier has received backlash after defending the fans who booed Harry Maguire during England’s 3-0 win over the Ivory Coast on Tuesday.

captain Maguire was routinely jeered by his own supporters at Wembley, something that was heavily condemned by his teammates and Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate, who branded the boos ‘an absolute joke.’

However, Le Tissier has joined the likes of in criticising Southgate’s comments, writing on Twitter: ‘If Gareth Southgate doesn’t want fans booing his players, then he should stick to what he said when he took on the job, that he would pick players on form for their clubs.

‘Oh and the fans pay their money to watch so they’re allowed an opinion I’d say.’

The subject has already caused quite a stir within the football community with players, pundits, managers and fans divided on whether the booing was justified or necessary, but Le Tissier’s words seem to have added fuel to the fire.

Maguire has endured a poor season for United but still impresses for England (Photo: Alex Pantling – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

Many on Twitter took the time to remind the former attacking midfielder of a tweet he had made four years earlier which said: ‘Big game for Southampton FC today. Need the fans more than ever, never once did booing players during the game ever help.’

Le Tissier, a Saints icon who won eight caps with England, attempted to justify his change in tune responding to one user with: ‘I didn’t say they couldn’t do it, I said it doesn’t help.’

Regardless of one’s opinion on the matter, it is clear that this story won’t be going away anytime soon and might well follow Maguire, Southgate and England all the way to the Qatar World Cup and beyond.

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