SAVAGE COMEBACK
BT Sport commentator Robbie Savage blasts ‘disgraceful and pathetic’ Newcastle fans who chanted ‘w*****’ at him on TV
ROBBIE SAVAGE has branded the Newcastle fans who jeered him during Saturday's game at Rochdale “pathetic” and "a disgrace”.
The former Blackburn and Derby star, 45, vented his anger on his Radio 5 606 show on Sunday night.
1
Savage was targeted by nearby Toon fans - who called him a "w*****" - during the 1-1 draw in the FA Cup third round clash at Spotland.
But he's now hit back, saying: “I was at Rochdale working for TV and the commentary gantry was right amongst the Newcastle fans. Right amongst 3,000 fans.
"So I said what a great turn out from the Newcastle fans, you know, passionate, supporting their team.
"They were singing away and then obviously I was spotted and then I was trending on Twitter for the obscenities Newcastle fans were singing at me.
"I took in [it] good faith. I was smiling and laughing, but put yourself in this situation... if I was a Newcastle fan I’d have been embarrassed."
"ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC"
Savage went on to reveal his anger at being abused while working, adding: “To sing the obscenity at a commentator when he’s doing his job...
"Imagine in your workplace, you’ve got X amount of people, turning round pointing camera phones in your face and waiting for you to respond and you’re trying to do your job.
"I thought they were a disgrace – the Newcastle fans.
“Try supporting your team who, by the way, got battered by Rochdale in the second half, instead of putting your frustration on the commentator.
“It was pathetic. Newcastle fans who were singing this are absolutely pathetic.”
But Robbie did reveal that former Magpies legend Alan Shearer had texted him in jest to claim he’d “started” the obscene chants.
BT Sport bosses were forced to apologise as fans could be heard chanting "Robbie Savage is a w*****" on TV coverage.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
Fans watching the FA Cup tie live on BT Sport 1 were able to clearly hear the explicit jeers from the fans.
Peter Drury, who was alongside Savage in the commentary box, apologised to the listeners moments after they began.
The 53-year-old said: "If you're hearing bad language from the supporters we apologise. We are right in amongst them as you can gather."
Robbie Savage ends eight-year retirement and signs with Stockport Town
Topics