A Liverpool legend has come under fire online after refusing to sign an autograph for a young Manchester United fan.
Football rivalries are among the fiercest in sports, and few are as intense as the one between Liverpool and Manchester United. The two clubs have battled for decades, with fans often taking jabs at each other when one team outperforms the other.
That competitive spirit appears to extend to former players as well. A viral clip shows one of Liverpool’s most iconic figures ignoring a young United supporter’s request for an autograph.
The incident took place at the Reignwood Icons of Football golf tournament in Bangkok over the weekend. The event featured 24 former professional footballers split into two teams—Team England and Team World—led by Ryder Cup captains.
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler, representing Team England, has been criticized on social media for refusing to sign the young fan’s United shirt after England’s victory on Sunday.
Reactions to the footage shared by Sky Sports were mixed. Some fans called Fowler’s response “petty” and “sad,” while others defended him, arguing that it would be odd for a Liverpool legend to sign a rival club’s jersey.
With Manchester United icons like Paul Scholes, Peter Schmeichel, and Nemanja Vidic also at the event, the young fan may have hoped to get a signature from one of them but seized the opportunity to ask Fowler instead.
Other football stars participating included Jimmy Bullard, Joe Hart, John Terry, and Teddy Sheringham for England, while Team World featured Luis Figo, Diego Forlan, David Ginola, and Ruud Gullit under captain Sergio Garcia.