Gary Neville has branded suggestions Oli McBurnie would face an FA charge over his ‘obscene gesture’ at a football match a “disgrace”.
The Sheffield United striker was spotted in the stands at Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday for their clash with his former club Swansea.
McBurnie joined the legions of travelling Swansea fans in the away end for the south Wales derby, as the Championship sides played out a fairly uneventful 0-0 draw.
Indeed it was McBurnie who has managed to take all the headlines, after he was photographed making a rude gesture with his hands at the home fans.
Sky Sports reported the 23-year-old could face action from the FA, as pundit Neville shared their story and blasted the prospect of the star being punished.
(Image: Kieran McManus/BPI/REX)
“That’s a disgrace,” Neville tweeted. “This lad has done the most normal thing I’ve seen from a footballer for a long time. He goes to support his team and is pictured, filmed and ends up with this.”
Former Swansea hero Lee Trundle commented: “Exactly mate, people moan that players are too far detached from the fans then when one has a day out as a fan they do this.”
Fortunately for McBurnie, the FA opted not to hand out a punishment to the Blades’ frontman, instead reminding his of his responsibilities as a role model.
McBurnie was sporting a bucket hat as he cheered on Swansea, for whom he made 62 appearances from 2015-2019.
He joined Sheffield Utd in the summer in a deal that could potentially rise to £20million, which at the time was the highest transfer involving a Scottish player.
Alongside him in the stands were Swansea players Joe Rodon and Courtney Baker-Richardson, and UFC star Brett Johns.
It is the latest controversy involving McBurnie, after he was charged with drink-driving back in October.
The Scottish international pleaded not guilty to the charge at Leeds Magistrates Court in November, after he was accused of being one-and-a-half times over the legal limit when stopped by police in Garforth near Leeds on October 18.
Defending lawyer Jeremy Rosenberg told the court that McBurnie had only had one drink before he was pulled over in his Audi R8.
The court heard he was 18 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath over the legal limit of 35.