A shocking video that emerged online showed Phil Foden and his mother, Claire, being verbally and physically assaulted.
The incident took place backstage at Manchester’s AO Arena, where the 21-year old midfielder was attending a boxing event headlined by Amir Khan and Kell Brook. Foden and his mother ware led into a private room while a group of men were trying to surround them. Things escalated when his mother was hit in the face by one of the assailants.
Phil Foden appears to have been involved in a fight which started with a man hitting his mother at a night club.
Foden attempts to leave the scene, by entering another room, but a man hits his mother just a few seconds later.
Cc @Mick_Birchall pic.twitter.com/xLxjn6HZqN
— London & UK Crime (@CrimeLdn) February 20, 2022
Later, another member from the Man City player’s entourage was seen swinging a fire extinguisher to protect them.
A different video, with another set of assailants, shows the Foden family forcing their door shut to keep the perps out. The footballer was subjected to a number of obscenities, including a homophobic slur, in both instances.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “GMP are aware of a video circulating on social media showing a disturbance at the AO arena last night (February 19, 2022). We are conducting some further enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
Man City statement re Phil Foden: “Club aware of video showing Phil Foden + family being harassed + abused We are shocked + appalled about nature of abuse + ensuing assault on one of Phil’s family members. We will continue to give Phil + family all support + assistance they need”
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) February 20, 2022
Both the player and the family has received unequivocal backing from Manchester City.
In its statement, the current premier league champions have condemned the ‘shocking and appalling’ attack on Phil Foden and his family.
‘The club is aware of a video which has circulated on social media showing Phil Foden and his family being harassed and abused,’ City’s statement read.
#ManCity statement on Phil Foden: “The club is aware of a video which has circulated on social media showing Phil Foden and his family being harassed and abused. We are shocked and appalled about the nature of the abuse and ensuing assault on one of Phil’s family members…”
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) February 20, 2022
‘We are shocked and appalled about the nature of the abuse and ensuing assault on one of Phil’s family members. We will continue to give Phil and his family all the support and assistance they need.’
An AO Arena spokesperson said: “We are aware of an altercation that took place at the end of the evening as guests were leaving the arena. Venue security were on hand and no one requested medical assistance.”
