A recent incident during the North London Derby has ignited outrage among football fans, with Arsenal supporter Piers Morgan at the forefront. This controversy arose when a Tottenham fan displayed an inappropriate photo of Declan Rice’s wife, Lauren Fryer, on his phone during the match.
Piers Morgan Condemns Offensive Phone Behavior
The event took place during Arsenal’s convincing 4-1 victory over Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. As Rice prepared to take a corner kick, an opposing fan held up the photo, drawing immediate backlash from both Arsenal and Tottenham supporters.
Reactions from Players and Fans
Footage from the match, later aired on beIN Sports, showed Rice expressing his frustration about the incident to teammate Bukayo Saka and assistant coach Albert Stuivenberg. Rice reportedly said, “When I went to take a corner, they were showing it, so obviously I was angry.” Saka’s expression shifted from laughter to shock upon hearing this.
Despite the taunt, Rice remained focused, playing the full match and contributing to Arsenal’s dominant performance under manager Mikel Arteta. Morgan’s reaction on social media was particularly sharp. He criticized the Spurs fan, saying, “Memo to the pathetic little turd of a Spurs fan who did this to Declan Rice on Sunday.” He humorously suggested that the fan should find a Watford player’s girlfriend for future matches, referencing Tottenham’s precarious position in the league.
Broad Condemnation of the Act
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, including from many Tottenham fans who believe this behavior does not represent their club. Comments on social media included sentiments like:
- “I hate Arsenal like every Spurs fan, but this fella in the stands doesn’t represent us.”
- “Scummiest behaviour in sports.”
- “There are some lines that should never be crossed!”
- “Whoever that idiot fan was needs to be named and shamed.”
Previous Attacks on Lauren Fryer
This is not the first instance of Lauren Fryer facing online abuse. She has previously dealt with targeted harassment, leading her to delete social media accounts due to relentless trolling. Rice’s response to the situation was clear and heartfelt: “My wife is the love of my life and there is no one better for me.”
Lauren Fryer has received support from various high-profile individuals, including fellow footballer WAG Rebekah Vardy, who condemned the treatment she faced. Dani Dyer also shared her personal experiences with Fryer, noting the pain caused by such online abuse.
This incident has sparked a larger conversation about the need for accountability and respect in sports, emphasizing that certain boundaries should never be crossed.
