Belgian star Eden Hazard was compelled to awkwardly flip down a selfie request from a journalist who had simply fats shamed him throughout a press convention on the World Cup in Qatar.
The Egyptian reporter was captured on video asking the Real Madrid star about his weight throughout a press convention forward of Belgium’s must-win group conflict between world quantity two Belgium and 2018 runner-up Croatia.
“We observed that you’ve got gained a bit weight,” the journalist mentioned within the video which has been translated to English.
A visibly shocked Hazard requested him to repeat what was mentioned, with the reporter doubling down in response.
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“Recently, we observed that you’ve got gained weight. How are you coping with this and what prompted it?” he mentioned.
The Belgian captain was fast to close down the suggestion, denying the declare.
“No, that’s not true,” Hazard mentioned.
“My weight has remained secure. I all the time work laborious on my health and I believe that’s an important factor.”
In one of many more strange conditions encountered up to now on the 2022 World Cup, following the press convention, the 31-year-old attacking midfielder was then approached by the identical reporter who requested for a selfie in an extremely uncomfortable and seemingly tone-deaf transfer.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the primary time Harzard’s weight has been publicly questioned with a journalist reportedly kicked off Spanish tv final 12 months for calling Hazard “fats”.
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“(My weight?) I don’t disguise it. When I’m on trip, I’m on trip,” Hazard advised L’Equipe in March, 2021, in accordance with a report by The Sun.
“I’m somebody who takes weight quick and loses it quick.
“When I used to be in Lille at 18, I weighed 72 kilos. Afterwards, I gained muscle mass as much as 75 kilos.
“On a nasty day I weigh 77 kilos, however weighed 80 this summer season. I misplaced every part in 10 days.”
Hazard has confronted intense scrutiny relating to his type and health ever since transferring to Real Madrid from Chelsea, the place he was thought to be among the finest attackers on the planet.
Belgium is third in Group F (one level and purpose distinction behind each Croatia and Morocco) with one match remaining after a shock 2-0 loss to Morocco on Monday morning (AEDT).
GHANA OFFICIAL CRITICISED FOR ‘SHAMELESS’ ACT
A Ghana official has been roasted for making an attempt to take a selfie with a crying Son Heung-min seconds after his South Korea misplaced 3-2 of their World Cup group H match.
South Korea is on the point of going house from the World Cup in Qater after Ghana held on for the win in a thriller.
And it left Tottenham’s Son in tears after full-time — not that something was going to discourage the Ghanaian.
Son Heung-min is consoled on the pitch. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)Source: AFP
The man came visiting to Son and threw an arm round him whereas aiming his digicam in direction of the pair.
Son turned away and one other man from the Ghana bench advised his colleague to place the cellphone away.
South Korea’s closing group stage match comes in opposition to Portugal on Friday.
Ghana’s third video games comes in opposition to Uruguay on the identical night, with each units of outcomes anticipated to have a significant affect on who qualifies from the group.
There’s a time and a spot, mate. Picture: SBSSource: Supplied
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FAN INVADES PITCH WITH RAINBOW FLAG
Portugal’s match in opposition to Uruguay got here to a halt on Tuesday morning after a protester invaded the pitch.
The second occurred quickly after Bruno Fernandes took the lead for Portugal.
The man was waving a rainbow flag and carrying a t-shirt which learn ‘Save Ukraine’ on the entrance, whereas the again learn ‘Respect for Iranian Women’.
The broadcast swiftly lower away from each the person and the rainbow flag being faraway from the bottom.
FIFA has come underneath hearth throughout the event for banning using any pro-LGBTQI+ symbols, together with a rainbow armband for captains.
Portugal’s match in opposition to Uruguay got here to a halt on Tuesday morning after a protester invaded the pitch.Source: Getty Images
COACH SENDS CLEAR MESSAGE AFTER ‘STRANGE’ SNUB FIRES UP GREATS
Gareth Southgate’s refusal to make use of Phil Foden throughout England’s drab 0-0 draw in opposition to the United States has put renewed strain on the Three Lions boss forward of their decisive World Cup Group B conflict in opposition to Wales.
But the England supervisor has responded to the criticism by claiming Foden, who he described as a “tremendous participant”, will nonetheless play a “huge half” in the remainder of the group’s World Cup marketing campaign.
With England labouring to prise open the well-drilled US defence on the Al Bayt Stadium on Friday, it was notable that Southgate turned to Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford as his attacking modifications.
For the second successive World Cup recreation, Manchester City playmaker Foden had began on the bench.
After a 19-minute cameo within the 6-2 win over Iran, he was left kicking his heels as an unused substitute as England fell flat in opposition to the US.
Speaking to ITV, Southgate insisted Foden could be very a lot nonetheless a part of his plans.
“We haven’t bought any subject with Phil,” he mentioned.
“In September he began each video games for us and we put him into the sport versus Iran. We determined to stay with that group and we felt the modifications required one thing a bit totally different for the USA.
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“But we’re aspiring to be right here so long as we are able to. And he’s a brilliant participant and we predict the world of him. And he’s going to play a giant half.
“He can play off both wing. He can play as a false 9. He can play behind a striker, he doesn’t do this as usually for his membership.
“He works laborious for the group and, after all, he has fabulous technical means.”
Foden has been frozen out by Southgate’s choice for beginning Mason Mount behind striker Harry Kane, with Bukayo Saka on the appropriate aspect of the assault and Raheem Sterling on the left.
While there have been solely muted complaints from followers and pundits in regards to the 22-year-old’s exile when England crushed Iran, the highlight on Southgate’s choice was far harsher following a torpid show within the US stalemate.
“For Phil Foden to not be enjoying is an actual disgrace as a result of he’s a large expertise. He’s our greatest participant by a mile,” former England defender Gary Neville mentioned.
Wayne Rooney, England’s report goalscorer, agrees with Neville that Foden must be a part of the beginning line-up.
“I discovered it very unusual that Foden didn’t come on as an alternative in opposition to the USA. He can be a key a part of my beginning XI if I had been the England boss,” Rooney wrote within the Times.
“Technically, he’s one of the best footballer England have. I believe you probably have a expertise like Foden, you merely should play him.” Foden did begin England’s first two group video games at Euro 2020 however misplaced his place throughout the group’s progress to a closing defeat in opposition to Italy, which he missed on account of harm.
As one among England’s brightest skills, along with his means on the Premier League and Champions League phases lengthy since established, it appears curious that Southgate has been so reluctant to make use of Foden.
“It was baffling that he remained on the bench when the sport was crying out for his creativity. He is an excessive amount of of a particular expertise,” former England defender Jamie Carragher mentioned.
Some might level out that Foden has but to recapture his transcendent City type in his 19 England caps, with simply two worldwide objectives to his identify up to now.
Despite the US draw, England stay in charge of their very own destiny within the battle to qualify for the final 16.
Only an unlikely four-goal defeat in opposition to Wales on Tuesday would deny England a spot within the knockout phases, with a victory sure to make sure they advance as group winners.
But waiting for the latter phases of the event, England must present extra ingenuity if they’re to beat the world’s finest and at last carry a significant trophy for the primary time because the 1966 World Cup.
That is why Foden’s supporters consider he should be given an opportunity to ascertain momentum now.
For Southgate that’s the dilemma he should remedy to keep away from England’s World Cup problem ending in recriminations.
