Liverpool, currently on tour in Malaysia, had an interesting and — thankfully for one spectator — non-violent incident in the stands involving a brave soul and his choice of fashion.
The fan wearing a Wayne Rooney Manchester United shirt was booed, taunted and eventually stripped of his shirt at Liverpool’s open training session in Malaysia. The YouTube video’s explanation was that the fan showed off the jersey, kissing the Man United badge and screaming “champions” in front of the crowd. The response to this from the fans was less than friendly, as the booing and chanting began, while he eventually was removed of his shirt and later left to a chorus of “Liverpool” chants.
A few opinions on this, especially considering the nature of the story in light of the Newcastle incident. First, sports culture in general dictates that people care a bit too much sometimes about their teams and rivals. By wearing a rival’s shirt to a game you can already expect to get a bit of a hassle from the other side. If you can deal with that, good for you. However, there is a difference between wearing the shirt and how you act while wearing said shirt. The fan (according to the person who uploaded the video) allegedly acted out and taunted the Liverpool faithful, which is not a good decision and a real show of a lack of common sense. Whether its football, or just life in general, you don’t roll into a place full of people who all agree on something and start saying the opposite, especially if you are outnumbered.
The real weird part of it is that as of last time I checked, Manchester United was in America, and not currently playing Liverpool in Malaysia. It’s one thing to support your team at their rival’s place, but it’s a whole different thing to wear the shirt when your team is not even in your country at the time.
