Alessia Russo of the Manchester United women’s team was awarded as the best player of the season and the scorer of the season. Club boss John Shiels apologized for his behavior the next day.
The star striker of the Manchester United women’s team Alessia Russo got into an embarrassing situation at the club’s award ceremony on Monday.
Russo was awarded the goal of the season for his extra-time winner in United’s 3-2 away win over Arsenal in November in front of 40,000 spectators. He was also awarded as the team’s player of the season.
The England national team player came on stage to collect the award, while the United boss handed it out John Shiels started with solos.
– I won’t give this to Alessia, because this is so heavy. I just went to lift weights. Jason, can you take this? Shiels said, hoping the person in the background would claim the award.
Hosted the event Geoff Shreeves saved the confused athlete from the situation.
– Isn’t Russo happy to take it? John, you could go to the gym a bit more, the prize isn’t that heavy, Shreeves said.
Russo took the trophy with ease.
– It’s quite heavy, the player said with an annoyed smile.
Shiels was left to verify if Russo could stand upright.
The situation can be seen in the tweet below.
Shiels’ behavior drew criticism, and for example a sports presenter Laura Woods commented on the incident on Twitter.
– How to turn a great moment into a damn awkward one, Woods wrote.
Shiels responded to the criticism on Twitter on Tuesday. According to his own words, the club boss was amazed at how important the award was.
– I would have done the same for a male player. I simply didn’t want him to drop it.
Shiels says he is ashamed of what happened and apologizes to Russo and his teammates.
– After thinking about the case, I understand why my comment was misunderstood. I am proud of Manchester United’s work empowering women and saddened that my words took away the attention from the great achievements of Alessia and the women’s team.
United finished second in the English Premier League, two points behind champions Chelsea. Russo scored ten goals during the season and was his team’s best finisher together by Leah Galton with.
Arsenal was third in the series. Defender Emma Koiviston Liverpool were seventh and the goalkeeper Tinja-Riikka Korpelan and midfielder Eveliina Summanen Tottenham ninth.