Belgian star Eden Hazard was forced to awkwardly turn down a selfie request from a journalist who had just fat shamed him during a press conference at the World Cup in Qatar.
The Egyptian reporter was captured on video asking the Real Madrid star about his weight during a press conference ahead of Belgium’s must-win group clash between world number two Belgium and 2018 runner-up Croatia.
“We noticed that you have gained a little weight,” the journalist said in the video which has been translated to English.
A visibly stunned Hazard asked him to repeat what was said, with the reporter doubling down in response.
WRAP: Ronaldo claims teammate’s goal in wild scenes; coach send off stuns in WC’s wildest night
FULL FIXTURES: All the key games, times and every Socceroos match in Qatar
“Recently, we noticed that you have gained weight. How are you dealing with this and what caused it?” he said.
The Belgian captain was quick to shut down the suggestion, denying the claim.
“No, that’s not true,” Hazard said.
“My weight has remained stable. I always work hard on my fitness and I think that’s the most important thing.”
In one of the more bizarre situations encountered so far at the 2022 World Cup, following the press conference, the 31-year-old attacking midfielder was then approached by the same reporter who asked for a selfie in an incredibly uncomfortable and seemingly tone-deaf move.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time Harzard’s weight has been publicly questioned with a journalist reportedly kicked off Spanish television last year for calling Hazard “fat”.
Souttar addresses PL transfer whispers | 01:43
“(My weight?) I don’t hide it. When I am on vacation, I am on vacation,” Hazard told L’Equipe in March, 2021, according to a report by The Sun.
“I am someone who takes weight fast and loses it fast.
“When I was in Lille at 18, I weighed 72 kilos. Afterwards, I gained muscle mass up to 75 kilos.
“On a bad day I weigh 77 kilos, but weighed 80 this summer. I lost everything in 10 days.”
Hazard has faced intense scrutiny regarding his form and fitness ever since moving to Real Madrid from Chelsea, where he was regarded as one of the best attackers in the world.
Belgium is third in Group F (one point and goal difference behind both Croatia and Morocco) with one match remaining after a shock 2-0 loss to Morocco on Monday morning (AEDT).
GHANA OFFICIAL CRITICISED FOR ‘SHAMELESS’ ACT
A Ghana official has been roasted for trying to take a selfie with a crying Son Heung-min seconds after his South Korea lost 3-2 in their World Cup group H match.
South Korea is on the brink of going home from the World Cup in Qater after Ghana held on for the win in a thriller.
And it left Tottenham’s Son in tears after full-time — not that anything was going to deter the Ghanaian.
The man came over to Son and threw an arm around him while aiming his camera towards the pair.
Son turned away and another man from the Ghana bench told his colleague to put the phone away.
South Korea’s final group stage match comes against Portugal on Friday.
Ghana’s third games comes against Uruguay on the same evening, with both sets of results expected to have a major impact on who qualifies from the group.
3-3! Cameroon earn draw vs. Serbia | 00:59
FAN INVADES PITCH WITH RAINBOW FLAG
Portugal’s match against Uruguay came to a halt on Tuesday morning after a protester invaded the pitch.
The moment happened soon after Bruno Fernandes took the lead for Portugal.
The man was waving a rainbow flag and wearing a t-shirt which read ‘Save Ukraine’ on the front, while the back read ‘Respect for Iranian Women’.
The broadcast swiftly cut away from both the man and the rainbow flag being removed from the ground.
FIFA has come under fire during the tournament for banning the use of any pro-LGBTQI+ symbols, including a rainbow armband for captains.
COACH SENDS CLEAR MESSAGE AFTER ‘STRANGE’ SNUB FIRES UP GREATS
Gareth Southgate’s refusal to use Phil Foden during England’s drab 0-0 draw against the United States has put renewed pressure on the Three Lions boss ahead of their decisive World Cup Group B clash against Wales.
But the England manager has responded to the criticism by claiming Foden, who he described as a “super player”, will still play a “big part” in the rest of the team’s World Cup campaign.
With England labouring to prise open the well-drilled US defence at the Al Bayt Stadium on Friday, it was notable that Southgate turned to Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford as his attacking changes.
For the second successive World Cup game, Manchester City playmaker Foden had started on the bench.
After a 19-minute cameo in the 6-2 win over Iran, he was left kicking his heels as an unused substitute as England fell flat against the US.
Speaking to ITV, Southgate insisted Foden is very much still part of his plans.
“We haven’t got any issue with Phil,” he said.
“In September he started both games for us and we put him into the game versus Iran. We decided to stick with that team and we felt the changes required something a little different for the USA.
Casemiro fires Brazil into knockouts | 01:04
“But we are intending to be here as long as we can. And he is a super player and we think the world of him. And he is going to play a big part.
“He can play off either wing. He can play as a false nine. He can play behind a striker, he doesn’t do that as often for his club.
“He works hard for the team and, of course, he has fabulous technical ability.”
Foden has been frozen out by Southgate’s preference for starting Mason Mount behind striker Harry Kane, with Bukayo Saka on the right side of the attack and Raheem Sterling on the left.
While there were only muted complaints from fans and pundits about the 22-year-old’s exile when England crushed Iran, the spotlight on Southgate’s decision was far harsher following a lethargic display in the US stalemate.
“For Phil Foden not to be playing is a real shame because he’s a massive talent. He’s our best player by a mile,” former England defender Gary Neville said.
Wayne Rooney, England’s record goalscorer, agrees with Neville that Foden should be part of the starting line-up.
“I found it very strange that Foden did not come on as a substitute against the USA. He would be a key part of my starting XI if I were the England boss,” Rooney wrote in the Times.
“Technically, he is the best footballer England have. I think if you have a talent like Foden, you simply have to play him.” Foden did start England’s first two group games at Euro 2020 but lost his place during the team’s progress to a final defeat against Italy, which he missed due to injury.
As one of England’s brightest talents, with his ability on the Premier League and Champions League stages long since established, it seems curious that Southgate has been so reluctant to use Foden.
“It was baffling that he remained on the bench when the game was crying out for his creativity. He is too much of a special talent,” former England defender Jamie Carragher said.
Some may point out that Foden has yet to recapture his transcendent City form in his 19 England caps, with just two international goals to his name so far.
Despite the US draw, England remain in control of their own fate in the battle to qualify for the last 16.
Only an unlikely four-goal defeat against Wales on Tuesday would deny England a place in the knockout stages, with a victory certain to ensure they advance as group winners.
But looking ahead to the latter stages of the tournament, England will have to show more ingenuity if they are to beat the world’s best and finally lift a major trophy for the first time since the 1966 World Cup.
That is why Foden’s supporters believe he must be given a chance to establish momentum now.
For Southgate that is the dilemma he must solve to avoid England’s World Cup challenge ending in recriminations.
