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Sport

28th Jun 2016

Fans react with anger to Roy Hodgson’s ‘rude’ and ‘disgraceful’ farewell press conference

Oh dear.

Nooruddean Choudry

Oh Roy.

Roy Hodgson cut a forlorn figure immediately following England’s embarrassing defeat to Iceland on Monday night. It may have been a shambles of a performance, but his broken demeanour had many feeling rather sorry for him – even whilst acknowledging he’d been a failure.

But on Tuesday afternoon, a very different Roy was on show. He was abrupt, visibly annoyed and well…sulking. It was obvious that he was only there due to his contractual obligations, and made his irritation abundantly clear.

FBL-EURO-2016-ENG-PRESSER : News Photo

“I don’t really know what I’m doing here,” he complained. “I thought my statement last night was sufficient. I’m no longer the England manager – my time has been and gone.”

“I suppose someone has to stand and take the slings and arrows that come with it [the defeat to Iceland].”

He added a barbed reference to his detractors in the media, with the clear suggestion that ‘football men’ would have a level of understanding and empathy for his plight.

“I think anybody who’s out there, who knows anything about football – who’s even played the game of football – will have some idea of how I feel today.”

Suffice to say, his moody performance didn’t go down very well with journalists and fans alike…