Joe Gomez was an innocent party in his bust-up with Raheem Sterling, suffering a scratch to the eye.
England manager Gareth Southgate made a point of stressing this, with Sterling dropped for Thursday’s 7-0 mauling of Montenegro.
Gomez didn’t start the game at Wembley, but he was introduced with 20 minutes remaining.
Incredibly, a section of the home crowd had the audacity to actually boo Gomez when he came on.
These Liverpool supporters, and well as some journalists, were left bemused by the incident on Twitter, voicing their unhappiness.
Wait, England fans are booing Joe Gomez because Raheem Sterling couldn’t keep his emotions the night before and grabbed Joe’s neck and scratched him, yet he forgives his apology and pleaded Southgate for him to stay?
Madness.
— Samuel (@SamueILFC) November 14, 2019
Very strange reaction there… a smattering of boos when Joe Gomez came on. Bizarre. His behaviour has been impeccable after the bust-up. You could see Raheem Sterling clapping him from the stands when Gomez came on.
— John Cross (@johncrossmirror) November 14, 2019
Liverpool fans boo Sterling and we're a disgrace.
England fans boo Gomez, Liverpool fans moan, and now we're dramatic.
One rule for them and another for us, isn't it?
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) November 14, 2019
I didn’t get Raheem Sterling being booed by some England fans at Euro 2016 and I’m equally baffled why Joe Gomez was booed by some fans tonight. If the players say they are united then why would section a supporters create a negative vibe??
— Ian Dennis (@Iandennisbbc) November 14, 2019
People are genuinely surprised when they find out some Liverpool fans actively want England to lose. https://t.co/tocAn3qXE0
— Henry Jackson (@HenryJackson87) November 14, 2019
Absolutely embarrassing. By all accounts Gomez was the professional one in the Sterling incident and helped calm tempers in the aftermath. Needless. https://t.co/WwUiIys3Lz
— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) November 14, 2019
Read Liverpool Verdict
The behaviour of these fans – admittedly, a minority – is outrageous, considering Gomez did nothing wrong.
A humble, down-to-earth individual, the booing is likely to have hurt the 22-year-old’s feelings.
It sums up why some Liverpool supporters find it difficult to get behind the national team – you have to wonder if Gomez would have been booed if he played for someone else.
Sterling took to Twitter to defend his teammate after the match, which was a nice touch – hopefully the people who treated Gomez so badly realise the error of their ways.
