We were not expecting Wes Brown to be a talking point at this World Cup
Much has been made during this summer’s World Cup about the FIFA Legends system, which sees world football’s governing body parading a number of former footballers to matches as ambassadorial figures.
The practice has been common for years, but was cast into the spotlight last month when it emerged how much FIFA was paying Diego Maradona – a man who has been involved in some high profile situations at the World Cup – to appear in Russia as one of its ‘Legends’.
He is not the only former player appearing at this World Cup, with the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Alex Scott, Diego Forlan and Carlos Valderamma all appearing at different games throughout the tournament.
One name at Tuesday night’s game between England and Colombia appeared to take people by surprise however, and that name was Wes Brown.
The former Manchester United and Sunderland defender stepped out onto the pitch prior to the Three Lions’ game against the South American side to deliver a speech, but was quickly drowned out by the boos of Colombia supporters.
The fans in the stadium were not the only ones taken aback by Brown’s sudden appearance though, with many social media users revelling in the fact that the Premier League and Champions League winner is considered in the same company as El Diego.
https://twitter.com/BradSeymour47/status/1014204602332385284
https://twitter.com/ibby21111/status/1014204589095124993
Wes Brown! Baked bean heed himself 😍 Why?!
— Jane Evans Pickard (@janeevpixie) July 3, 2018
Wes Brown is a premier league legend and not a FIFA legend mate.
— Real MaDrinks (@CarltonChilemb1) July 3, 2018
Wes Brown is a FiFA legend. Says a lot.
— Fernando Palomo ESPN®️ (@fernandopalomo) July 3, 2018
FIFA ‘Legend’ Wes Brown addressing the crowd before Colombia v England #ENG #COL #WorldCup @MirrorFootball pic.twitter.com/69fyPU8ZLJ
— David McDonnell (@DiscoMirror) July 3, 2018
Wes Brown on the pitch as a 'Fifa legend'… pic.twitter.com/QamkY6r6SC
— David Coverdale (@dpcoverdale) July 3, 2018
Wes Brown as the England pitchside legend, what a joke.
— David Sansun (@RFN_David) July 3, 2018
THEY GOT WES BROWN AS AN ENGLAND FIFA LEGEND LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOO
— Nino (@AfNino) July 3, 2018
