Football: Marcus Rashford going to a Boxing Match isn't a big deal

One of our writers, Liam C, takes aim at the so-called football experts and their intense criticism of Marcus Rashford.

Where do the media and pundits focus their attention in the football world?

Is it ticket prices and generations of fans being priced out of supporting their clubs? Is it dodgy owners?

Is it the fact that teams promoted from the Championship are being relegated straight away, highlighting the huge gap between the first and second tiers of English football?

No. It is Marcus Rashford attending a boxing match, on a day when his temporary side were playing nearby and he was unavailable.

The wider context

Between 2020 and 2021, Marcus Rashford led a campaign to help feed children and young people during a national emergency. He was criticised by many for doing this. "PRashford", they claimed. These people have been out to get him ever since.

At this point, Rashford was still performing well at a Manchester United side struggling for consistency, yet still finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League. There were also reports that he was playing through injuries. Then came the reaction to his missed penalty at Euro 2021, when, alongside Saka and Sancho, he was subjected to disgusting racist abuse.

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While his performances for Manchester United clearly declined after his successful 2022–23 campaign, he was not the only one to struggle in what has been a toxic and almost bewildering environment at his boyhood club. Very few players would thrive in such circumstances. In fact, aside from Bruno Fernandes, very few have.

His loan move to Aston Villa represented a player in need of a fresh start. For the most part, this has been a success.

The incident in question

Marcus Rashford was already in London watching his temporary side in an FA Cup semi-final. It was three hours after the match, yet you would think Rashford had been out drinking until the early hours of the morning. The reaction from media personalities has been nothing short of absurd. This has resulted in a social media pile-on. The selective outrage has been baffling.

Understanding the perspective of the fans

I understand why Manchester United fans have felt frustrated with Rashford at times. His attitude has, on occasion, appeared questionable. But this is a United side that, as mentioned above, remains in complete disarray. It must be difficult to play with a smile on your face in that environment.