Player booed by his own fans on multiple occasions during Everton vs Blackburn friendly
A player who featured in the friendly between Everton and Blackburn Rovers was booed on multiple occasions during the opening 45 minutes of Saturday’s clash at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm. Jack Harrison, who has returned to Blackburn Rovers this summer following a two-year loan spell at Everton, was thrown straight into Tony Mowbray’s starting line-up for the game against the Toffees.
The 28-year-old’s decision to join Everton in the summer 2023, just months after Blackburn were relegated from the Championship, was controversial, to say the least. In fact, some fans accused Harrison of jumping ship shortly after signing a new five-year contract in April 2023. Kris Smith, a Blackburn fan and pundit at Football League World, made his feelings clear on the situation earlier this year.
“I think it’s very clear to every single Blackburn fan and everyone at the club that Harrison has completely burned his bridges at Ewood Park, and he won’t ever be welcome back,” he said in February. Harrison was reportedly booed by fans on Saturday.
Harrison was booed both before and during the friendly against Everton in Sweden. Blackburn Rovers reporter Isaac Johnson posted an update from the Strawberry Arena ahead of kick-off. “Jack Harrison gets a big boo from many of the Blackburn fans as his name is read out over the tannoy,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Harrison was also booed in the opening stages of the contest, as Lancashire Evening Post reporter Graham Smyth confirmed the jeers. He wrote: “5 – A few boos for Harrison from the Blackburn end as he gets on the ball.”
Here’s how fans on social media reacted to the scenes. One said: “Just not helpful at all is it,” while another commented: “Why? What has he done wrong? Remember, we’d practically sold him to another club before we shipped him off to Everton. The lad always gave his best in a Blackburn shirt.”
A third wrote: “I don’t get it, if he’s willing to put the work in and from what I have seen so far he’s chasing players down and doing that, give him a chance to prove he’s worth it.” A fourth said: “Pretty much how I expected it would go,” and a fifth added: “Pathetic.”
Earlier this week, Smyth gave an update on Harrison’s current status at Ewood Park. “Sources close to the player say that he was never going to refuse to report back and club sources say his attitude has been spot on, but there is no ignoring the elephant in the room,” he wrote in the Lancashire Evening Post newsletter, as per Blackburn Rovers News.
“This is a re-marriage of inconvenience and if it was to be made official when Everton visit Ewood Park for the first game of the new season, there would be thousands rising to their feet to speak now in objection rather than holding their peace.” He added: “By all accounts, done what all Blackburn Rovers footballers are expected to do. He’s trained hard, like a professional should.”
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images – Everton TV
Topics: Everton, Championship, Blackburn Rovers
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