Harry Maguire’s mother, Zoe Maguire, has strongly condemned the negative and abusive comments directed at her son, denouncing those who have subjected him to undue pressure as “appalling.”
The 30-year-old faced a barrage of boos during England’s 3-1 victory over Scotland in Tuesday’s friendly at Hampden Park.
When he came on as a substitute in the second half, Maguire was met with jeers, and his introduction was also questioned by pundits.
In an unfortunate turn of events, the center-back scored an own-goal in the 67th minute, marking his second appearance this season.
Maguire had previously been a target of criticism during Manchester United’s pre-season tour of the United States.
Taking to Instagram, Maguire’s mother expressed her disapproval, saying, “As a mother, witnessing the extent of negative and abusive comments directed at my son by certain fans, pundits, and the media is disgraceful and completely unacceptable in any walk of life, let alone for someone who puts in tireless effort for his club and country.”
She continued, “I was there in the stands at Hampden, as always. What has been created is simply not acceptable, especially considering it’s over nothing of real consequence.”
“I understand that in the world of football, there are highs and lows, positives and negatives, but what Harry has endured goes far beyond the realm of ‘football.’”
“It pains me to see him go through this, and I wouldn’t want any other parents or players to experience this in the future, particularly the young boys and girls trying to make their mark today.”
“Harry possesses an enormous heart, and it’s fortunate he’s mentally resilient enough to cope with it, unlike others who might not be. I wouldn’t wish this type of abuse on anyone.”
Following the victory over Scotland, England manager Gareth Southgate labelled the treatment of Maguire as a “ridiculous situation,” while the player himself stated that he was mentally strong enough to handle it.
