Marcus Rashford has denied making a lewd gesture towards a Manchester United fan.
As United's players left Old Trafford on Tuesday night following their Champions League exit at the hands of Atletico Madrid, some - particularly Rashford and Harry Maguire - received verbal abuse from fans gathered outside.
One video taken among the fans allegedly showed Rashford gesturing back towards one of those fans, with some claiming he had raised his middle finger.
It's something the 24-year old vehemently denied in a statement released via his Twitter account on Wednesday evening.
"For weeks I've been heckled, threatened, questioned and last night my emotion got the better of me," said Rashford, "I'm a human being. Reading and hearing that stuff about yourself every day it wears you down."
He added, "I want to clarify two things. The first being what I actually said to the man throwing abuse at me which "come over here and say it to my face" (a fact security can back up) and secondly, the fact I used my forefinger to direct the fan to 'come over and say it to my face'.
United fans threw their drinks at Simeone 😳
(via @CBSSportsGolazo)pic.twitter.com/JEoYFcfvol— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 15, 2022
"I did not gesture with my middle finger."
Rashford has indeed come under intense criticism from United fans for a string of sub-par performances this season.
Some of those United supporters could find themselves in hot water shortly.
The Premier League club confirmed on Wednesday that they were reviewing CCTV footage after Atletico manager Diego Simeone was targeted with objects thrown from the crowd at Old Trafford.
The Argentine was showered with what appeared to be beverage cups and sundry other projectiles as he made for the tunnel at full time.
United will issue a three year ban to anyone identified.
Marcus Rashford statement:
A video can paint a thousand words and in this case lead to inaccurate info being shared on social media.
Guys for weeks I've been heckled, threatened, questioned and last night my emotion got the better of me. I'm a human being. Reading and hearing that stuff about yourself every day it wears you down.
No one is more critical of my performance than me. But what you see in this video lacks context. I had been heckled from the minute I stepped foot outside the ground, abuse not just aimed at my football.
People were looking for a reaction from me. Phones were at the ready. Of course I should have walked straight past and ignored it, that's what we're supposed to do right?
I want to clarify 2 things. The first being what I actually said to the man throwing abuse at me which "come over here and say it to my face" (a fact security can back up) and secondly, the fact I used my forefinger to direct the fan to 'come over and say it to my face'.
I did not gesture with my middle finger.
I'm not entitled. This isn't ego. I'm upset. I'm disappointed. And in that moment it was silly but I was being human.
