United fan fired over selfie with city star
DAD-OF-FIVE LOSES JOB WITH OWN GOAL ON SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES
A UNITED fan says he lost his job on his first day after breaking coronavirus restrictions to get a selfie – with City star Riyad Mahrez.
Groundworker Craig Willis, 37, said he was sacked after asking the Blues player for a photo within hours of starting.
He had been hired by an agency to look after paving at a luxury apartment complex but failed to follow strict coronavirus rules.
Dad-of-five Craig said he spotted the Algerian winger, 29, while he was being shown around and approached him for a snap. He says Mahrez seemed happy to pose, even giving him a fist bump afterwards.
But Craig said he was called by his supervisor while on the way home and told not to return the next day.
He had signed a form which made it clear that getting within two metres of anyone on the site near Macclesfield was cause for instant dismissal. He said: “Mahrez seemed pretty cool with it. I asked and he said: ‘Yes, no problem.’
“I had the photo, had a fist bump – then got the call on the way home.
“I took the selfie for my best mate – he’s a City fan. I support United. But it’s not everyday you see someone like that.”
Craig said he returned to the site the following day to pick up his tools – when his sacking was confirmed.
He added: “Thinking about it, [two metres] is a rule, isn’t it? If I’ve signed something then fair enough. You can’t tell lies. I didn’t think about it. “I’ve broken the rules. But it wasn’t explained properly.
That’s the only thing I can say about it. And I did ask him. I was working and he walked past. I said: ‘Are you all right for a photo?’ He then came towards me.”
Craig was contracted to work for Pavetec. A spokesman for the company declined to comment.
The site is being developed by the PJ Livesey Group. A spokeswoman said: “The safety and security of everyone on our sites is of paramount importance at all times and the rules on this are very clear.”
There is no suggestion that Mahrez complained or was involved in the decision.