RED ALERT RACH
Rival fans taunt Countdown babe
BRAINY Rachel Riley says she gets “filthy” abuse for being a Man United fan.
The TV babe has faced stick since joining Sky Sports to front their football coverage.
And the Countdown beauty revealed being a lifelong Reds supporter has made her a target for other clubs’ fans.
Rachel, 31, told the Daily Star Sunday: “I’ve been quite a vocal United fan for a long time.
“I’ve pretty much supported them since I was born and a lot of people know me for that.
“But football is tribal so you can’t win whoever you support.”
Maths whizz Rachel added: “There’s no logic to who you should hate or who you should love or why we all do it as a block. But it happens.
“I get some interesting messages. There’s a lot of quick banter and there’s a lot of filth. ED GLEAVE But there’s also a lot of clever stuff. It’s all good fun – I don’t take it too seriously.”
Rachel will be supporting United when they play Southampton in the EFL Cup Final today at Wembley Stadium. But she admitted her loyalty sparks rows with her co-hosts in the Sky Sports studio.
She said: “We can all have our own opinions and when we’re watching the game together everyone is arguing over whether it was a foul or whether it should be a free kick. It’s great. I’m learning a lot from them.”
Rachel has been on Friday Night Football and Fantasy Football Club since last summer.
She added: “Being able to work for Sky Sports is a dream come true.
“The Friday Night Football presenters are the cream of the crop. It’s just great fun.
“It can be quite nerve-racking with people like Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher because they have been at the top of their game for 20-odd years.”
Rachel said moving into sports coverage had not presented any problems.
She added: “It took me a couple of shows to get used to it but now I’m really enjoying it.
“I haven’t had any negativity. It’s a modern world. People are used to men and women doing the same jobs.”