WALES STAR IS FACING BACKLASH OVER ‘JOKE’
ASHLEY Williams has found himself at the centre of controversy after seemingly sharing a joke at the expense of Cardiff City fans before the UEFA Nations League clash with Denmark on Friday night.
Wales went down 2-1 at the hands of the visitors to finish second in their group, keeping them in League B.
But it’s the comments made by the Stoke City centre-back during the pre-match build-up that have caused the biggest stir.
Williams, a former Swansea City captain, was filmed arriving at the home of the Swans’ rivals Cardiff City ahead of kick-off, apparently sharing a joke with another former Jack, Joe Allen, about Bluebirds fans.
The full video, which was tweeted out from the official Nations League Twitter page, appears to show Williams jokingly saying: “Look at these mugs doing the Ayatollah”. The tweet has since been removed.
One suggestion is Williams was passing a picture of Cardiff fans doing their trademark gesture while making the tongue-in-cheek comments, although the exact context is unclear. The joke is met with smiles and laughter in the background.
However, some fans, particularly those with an allegiance to Cardiff, didn’t see the funny side to the joke, with many taking to social media to vent their annoyance. Others thought it was, at best, an ill-advised thing for the Wales captain to say.
One, Richard Bertin, said: “I never want to see Ashley Williams put on a Welsh shirt ever again.”
Another added: “If you’re representing your club, call me a mug all you want. Not when you’re CAPTAIN of Wales, though.”
Others have contacted the FAW on social media to complain. One, John Gibbon, wrote: “Is it really appropriate for Ashley Williams to call Cardiff City supporters in a photo ‘mugs’? Is his role as captain now to divide the fans?
“Has #TogetherStronger completely scrapped now?”
In contrast, it’s fair to say a few members of the Jack Army found the whole thing rather amusing.
Meanwhile, other fans thought it no more than a storm in a teacup.
The FAW have so far made no comment on the issue. been
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