Harry Maguire’s mother has branded the abuse directed towards the Manchester United and England defender as ‘disgraceful and totally unacceptable’.
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Maguire came on as a half-time substitute in England’s 3-1 win over Scotland on Tuesday evening and was jeered by the Hampden Park crowd every time he touched the ball.
Gareth Southgate was furious with the reaction towards Maguire, who scored an own goal to give Scotland a lifeline in the game, and blamed ‘idiots’ in the English media for creating an agenda against the defender.
Maguire’s mother, Zoe, was in the crowd at Hampden Park and believes the treatment her son has received ‘has gone far beyond football’.
The statement from Zoe Maguire, which was posted on Instagram, read: ‘As a mum seeing the level of negative and abusive comments in which my son is receiving from some fans, pundits and the media is disgraceful and totally unacceptable to any walk of life never mind someone who works his socks off for club and country.
‘I was there in the stand as usual, it’s not acceptable what’s been created, over nothing.
‘I understand that in the football world there are ups and downs, positives and negatives but what Harry receives has gone far beyond ‘football’. For me seeing him go through what he’s going through is not ok.
‘I would hate to have to see any other parents or players go through this in the future, especially the young boys and girls breaking through the ranks today. Harry has a massive heart and it’s a good job he’s mentally strong and can handle it as others might not be able to. I wish this sort of abuse on nobody!’
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Maguire, meanwhile, is adamant that he is not struggling with the mental pressure from the negative reaction towards his performances.
‘Well, it pretty much takes the pressure away from my team-mates and puts it all on myself! It makes them play better, for sure,’ Maguire said after the 3-1 win over Scotland.
‘I would not say I am a person who struggles with pressure mentally. I have been through a lot in the last couple of years and I have been Manchester United captain for nearly four years.
‘You take a huge lot of responsibility and everything that comes with it – and that is a lot of bad as well as good.
‘But it was a huge honour [to play for England against Scotland]. It was a hostile environment – when you hear the national anthem and the way they disrespect that – and they piled pressure on myself. I would not say I am used to it, but I can deal with it.’
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