PUNCH DRUNK
Sunderland’s Gibson threatens to hit fan in foul-mouthed rant
SUNDERLAND midfielder Darron Gibson threatened to punch a supporter during what appeared to be a drunken row in which the footballer branded his own side ‘s***’ and said some of his team-mates don’t care.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder was caught on video camera in a hotel bar on Saturday night, just hours after Sunderland had been beaten 5-0 at home by Celtic.
In the video, Gibson admits to being ‘off his face’, and when the names of Lamine Kone, Jeremain Lens and Wahbi Khazri are put to him by fans, Gibson suggests they are not committed to the club. During the foul-mouthed tirade, the 29-year- old can be heard saying, ‘We’re f****** s***’, ‘There are too many people at the club who don’t give a f***’, and ‘I might be off my face in here, but I still want to play for Sunderland. The rest of them f****** don’t though’.
One fan says Gibson has been ‘doing doggies for 90 minutes’ against Celtic, a term for having been run ragged. Gibson appears to take offence at the comment and calls for the man to be brought back, saying: ‘I’ll punch his f****** head in.’
Another fan tells Gibson: ‘You
lot have been absolutely spanked by Celtic today, Sunderland has been smashed up and you’re in here off your face — that looks good for the club, doesn’t it?’
After his threat to hit one of the supporters, a female voice off camera can be heard telling Gibson to walk away.
He replies: ‘Stay there, see what happens.’
Gibson then loiters in a doorway using his mobile phone before the footage cuts out.
Sunderland’s players trained yesterday morning, but the Gibson video only came to light at around lunchtime.
The club were making no comment last night but Sportsmail understands the chief executive Martin Bain and Sunderland’s new manager Simon Grayson will review the footage today and they are expected to speak to Gibson at the training ground. Disciplinary action seems certain.
Gibson has been troubled in the past by off-the-field problems involving alcohol.
In September 2015 he was banned from driving for 20 months and sentenced to a 12-month community order after pleading guilty to drink- driving, careless driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident after he crashed into three cyclists.
Gibson got his break in English football when he moved from his home in Northern Ireland to join Manchester United in his teens.
After seven years at Old Trafford, he transferred to Everton, where the manager was David Moyes.
The Scot was in charge at the Stadium of Light last January when Gibson joined Sunderland in a £1million deal. But Gibson failed to impress as the club were relegated from the Premier League.
This latest shameful episode comes just a few days before Sunderland open the Championship season with a televised clash at home to Derby on Friday night.
Problems are already mounting for new boss Grayson. The shambolic defeat by Celtic included an argument between summer signings James Vaughan and Lewis Grabban over who would take a first- half penalty. Vaughan took it and missed. There was another row between Aiden McGeady and Didier Ndong. Northumbria Police made 19 arrests following disorder around the match. Footage online appeared to show a Celtic fan lying on the floor with blood pouring from a head injury. Police confirmed that one man had been taken to hospital.