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Michail Antonio in hypocritical rant, West Ham United star should check his own behaviour first
West Ham forward Michail Antonio has accused supporters who have abused and mocked Harry Maguire of going “way too far” in what can be considered a hypocritical rant.
Speaking on the Footballers’ Football Podcast [14 September] Antonio added that it is “embarrassing” the way Maguire has been treated by opposition fans and even some of his own.
Furthermore, the Jamaica international said he has “never seen this ever in football” as he leapt to the Manchester United and England centre-back’s defence.
Not to criticise fan favourite Antonio, but he knows better than anyone that everyone is entitled to their opinion – as long as it doesn’t cross the line.
Any abusive messages directed at Maguire on social media, in the stands or indeed in the street are quite simply not acceptable.
But jeering the player and calling his performances into question is surely fair game?
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After all, it was only a little over three months ago Antonio publicly called out then-colleague Gianluca Scamacca for his lack of fight.
“If you’re up front, you’re dealing with scraps and you’ve got to be more of a fighter, and that’s not him,” he said on the Filthyfellas podcast [31 May].
A penny for Scamacca’s thoughts at the time, having clearly struggled to adapt to life in England.
It is also worth nothing that Antonio, once again speaking on the Footballers’ Football Podcast in June, also poked fun at Tottenham’s Richarlison.
“He’s scored four times this season,” he said. “Three of the times he’s been offside and he’s taken his top off four times this season.”
Again, everyone – current players included – has a right to comment on individual players as long as it does not veer into personal abuse.
Everything Antonio said was fine in that regard and also very true in terms of what he said about both Scamacca and Richarlison.
But to then call out those who have the audacity to question Maguire’s form is bordering on hypocrisy.
On this occasion, Antonio should leave the talking for the field.
In other West Ham news, Maguire has discussed why his proposed move to the London Stadium fell through in the summer.