Credit: Twitter
Manchester United's defender Harry Maguire has been the target of unfair criticism for quite some time now, which his mother, Zoe Maguire, responded to in a heartfelt post on social media. Maguire's outing against Scotland was marred by an own goal that he scored in the 67th minute, cutting England's lead in half. Fortunately, Harry Kane scored in the 81st minute to restore the visitors' two-goal lead, and they went on to win 3-1.
The 30-year-old was not in Gareth Southgate's starting lineup as England took on Scotland at Hampden Park in a friendly match. Instead, he was brought on as a replacement for the injured Marc Guehi and was booed by the Scotland crowd each time the ball ended up at his feet.
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Following this, Magure's mother, Zoe, wrote a statement on Instagram in which she criticised the media, commentators, and fans for their treatment of her son, calling it "beyond disgraceful." She asserted that the abuse Maguire experiences transcends sport and expressed her desire for no one else to experience similar harassment.
Read the entire statement here:
Maguire’s teammate Aaron Ramsdale and coach Gareth Southgate had also come to Maguire’s defence recently. Despite England winning at Hampden Park thanks to goals from Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, and Harry Kane, Southgate felt the need to confront Maguire's treatment.
“From a Scotland fan’s point of view, I get it and I have absolutely no complaints, but it is a consequence of ridiculous treatment of him for a long period of time, frankly," the manager said. “But it is a joke. I have never known a player to be treated the way he is - not by the Scottish fans but by our own commentators, pundits, whatever it is,” Southgate added further.
Post the international break, Maguire is expected to return to the United squad, as they face Brighton and Hove Albion in their fifth league game of the season. The encounter will take place on Saturday, September 16 at the Old Trafford.
