AS a lifelong Manchester United fan who has supported the club since the mid-90s, the recent incident involving Amad Diallo’s middle finger gesture towards Malaysian fans has left me stunned — not because I condone abuse in sport (I don’t), but because, in this case, I simply couldn’t find any.
Having watched the viral video in question — and paid close attention to the audio — all I could hear were enthusiastic chants of “Amad!” and “Diallo!” as the player stepped off the team bus outside the W Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. There was nothing that resembled an insult, let alone one directed at his mother.
Now, I acknowledge that I may have missed something. Perhaps the insult, if it happened, was drowned out or uttered just before the recording began. But from what I saw, Amad responded immediately upon alighting the bus — flipping the middle finger without any visible or audible provocation. It didn’t add up.
And that’s what makes this so disappointing.
As a Malaysian, I find it hard to believe that anyone would drive all the way from Bukit Jalil, in the wee hours of Thursday morning, just to hurl abuse at Amad Diallo — a player who, truthfully, was among United’s most consistent performers in an otherwise shambolic season.
Even as we slumped to 15th in the English Premier League and missed out on European football after losing to Spurs in the Europa League final, Amad was one of the few bright sparks.
The Maybank Challenge Cup friendly against the Asean All Stars on Wednesday was another low point, ending in a 1-0 defeat.
Yes, the team was jeered — and rightly so, given the manner of the loss. But manager Ruben Amorim addressed that at the press conference. What happened at the stadium and what happened at the hotel are two entirely different things.
The reception at the hotel, if anything, was overwhelmingly positive. Fans – many of whom may never again get this close to their footballing heroes – had stayed up just to catch a glimpse, offer words of support, or snap a photo. So why the hostility from Amad?
His response on social media hasn’t helped.
“I shouldn’t have reacted that way, but I don’t regret it,” he said.
It’s a contradictory stance — one that suggests he knows it was wrong, but still stands by it. That’s not the maturity or professionalism one expects from a Manchester United player.
Even more troubling is that Amad wasn’t the only one.
Photos have surfaced of Alejandro Garnacho making the same obscene gesture — at the stadium, during a meet-and-greet, even in a posed fan photo with Amad and Ayden Heaven.
Are we to believe every single one of them was insulted, and by Malaysian fans no less?
Or is this now a trend? A misguided attempt to look edgy or cool, as though they were posing for a punk rock album or gangster rap poster?
Whatever the reasoning, it is unacceptable. As a supporter of this great club, I expect better.
Players represent the badge — and in doing so, carry with them the legacy of legends who never needed to raise a finger to show their strength.
This is not how former greats or players with class inspired fear or admiration. And it’s certainly not how Bruno Fernandes, our current captain, carries himself on or off the pitch.
Maybe that’s the real issue here. Maybe this incident is just a reflection of where Manchester United are today — not just at our lowest in terms of football, but in character as well.
I don’t call for pitchforks. But I do ask for accountability. A sincere apology from the players involved, and a clear message from the club that such behaviour is not in line with our values.
Because loving this club means holding it to a higher standard — even when it hurts. — June 1, 2025
The post Disappointed, not defending: a United fan on Amad Diallo’s middle finger — Fabian Peter appeared first on Scoop.
