England is reeling from an incident that unfolded on Sunday during the Premier League game between Tottenham and Arsenal. A home fan mocked Declan Rice by holding up a photograph of the player’s wife on his cellphone screen.
It happened as the England midfielder approached the sideline at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to take a corner kick. The supporter pulled out his phone and showed the image toward the Arsenal player, who fortunately appeared unaware of what was happening. Rice completed the full 90 minutes and played an active role in Mikel Arteta’s side’s emphatic 4-1 win in the north London derby. After the final whistle, he was seen celebrating with Viktor Gyökeres and marking his 100th appearance for the club.
This is not the first time Rice has had to endure an episode involving comments about the appearance of his wife, Lauren Fryer. In April, he spoke publicly about the abuse his family had received on social media. “My wife is the love of my life and there is no one better for me,” he said at the time.
Fryer, the mother of his son, was forced to shut down her social media accounts because of the constant harassment. Rebekah Vardy, wife of Jamie Vardy, was among those who condemned the treatment. “It’s truly disgusting what Lauren Fryer has been subjected to. Unfortunately, nowadays it’s very easy to hide behind a keyboard,” she said.
This latest image of shame has now spread worldwide, with social media users calling for firm sanctions against the supporter involved. Another chapter the sport would rather forget.
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