Former MEP Martin Daubney has been left red-faced after appearing live on air as a football expert, discussing the hot topic of the taking of the knee prior to international matches.
Daubney's focus was on Sunday's night friendly match between the England national team and Romania, before which players took the knee and a chorus of boos rang out around the Riverside stadium in Middlesbrough.
England wore their blue away kit for the fixture - which was their final practice match ahead of Euro 2020 - though this appeared to have thrown off Daubney who went on to make a completely incorrect observation in saying that two Three Lions stars did not take the knee.
The day after the match Daubney tweeted that he would be appearing on radio to discuss his thoughts about the events, and wrote: 'Join me on TalkRadio at 10.40am when I will be saying it’s time to end the divisive virtue signalling of taking the knee at football - we must axe it before Euro 2020 or it will majorly kick off.'
He then joined Mike Graham live on TalkRadio and went on to make his incorrect observation.
Daubney said on air: 'Interestingly if you look last night at the Riverside stadium, there were two England fans, two England players I beg your pardon, who didn't take the knee.
'I wonder if any of your listeners know who those players are, I'd like to say well done to those lads, they are leading by example.'
The segment immediately went viral online, being rapidly shared across social media as football fans were left rolling their eyes at the simple and avoidable error.
Earlier, Daubney had tweeted his same view about two England players supposedly refusing to take the knee, and asked fans if they could help him name them.
As criticism and ridicule quickly poured in his direction, Daubney deleted the tweet yet the damage was already done.
One user quickly saw the opportunity to poke fun at Daubney's error, responding with the Romanian translation for thank you.
'When thanking those 'England' players for not taking the knee, remember to say mulutmesc.'
Another user comically mistook the identity of Romanian football legends Gheorghe Hagi and Florin Raducioiu on purpose, in order to give Daubney a taste of his own medicine.
He wrote: 'I'd like to hear the opinions of former England players on this situation like Gheorghe Hagi and Florin Raducioiu.'
Many others simply piled in to question whether the former MEP even knew which match he was watching, or was aware that England do indeed occasionally play in other colours.
The taking of the knee is set to continue for the England team once Euro 2020 gets under way, after manager Gareth Southgate once again this week voiced his support of the gesture.
'We weren’t prepared to take a backward step,’ said Southgate.
‘We feel that would be wrong and would be bowing to pressure from outside and we don’t think that’s appropriate.'
The England boss has also asked those booing and criticising to put themselves in the shoes of some of his young players and imagine how it might make them feel.
‘I wanted to hear from the more senior players in the group first and foremost,’ said Southgate of the team's meeting about the subject on Friday.
‘I met with a slightly smaller group because it’s easier for people to talk and open up. My role is to represent the feelings and thoughts of the whole group and it was important to hear their view.
‘We did discuss “Is there a better way of doing this? Is there a more impactful way now of doing this?”
'Perhaps, moving forward there probably is. But at this moment in time, given what happened the other day, we weren’t prepared to take a backward step.'