Latest Manchester United news with former player Josh Harrop receiving a red card that left John Terry fuming during the Baller League
Former Manchester United midfielder Josh Harrop left John Terry fuming after his horror tackle during week three of the Baller League UK.
The five-a-side tournament, consisting of 12 teams with a twist, has been generating significant interest with several professional footballers and legends of the game involved. Terry is just one of many that are managers, with Alan Shearer, Robert Pires, Ian Wright and others also involved.
In the first clash of the third matchday at London’s Copper Box Arena, it was Terry’s 26ers up against FC Rules The World, managed by designer Clint 419, with both teams in search of a first victory.
Unsurprisingly, as Terry’s side were winning 3-2 heading into the late stages, tensions were high, and a chaotic brawl on the pitch took place after a very late foul by Harrop on Sak Hassan. The two players then squared up to each other, which saw more players join the brawl.
Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg was officiating the game and decided to send a player off from both teams, which saw it become 4 vs 4 for the next two minutes. Harrop was unsurprisingly one dismissed temporarily, with 26ers’ Kojo Apenteng as the other.
As he was not involved in the foul, Terry was left seething that his player was also forced to be on the sidelines, and his side conceding an equaliser late on made it all the more infuriating.
The Chelsea legend was on commentary for the following game, and his annoyance was made further clear as he blasted the reckless challenge from Harrop. In his only senior appearance for United, Harrop scored with Paul Pogba providing the assist in a 2-0 win against Crystal Palace on the final day of the 2016/17 season.
His last professional club was Cheltenham Town but he has been a free agent for the last six months. Harrop is hoping to get back into the pro game however, through the Baller League while also getting his love for the game back.
“It’s given me my purpose back in life,” he told Sky Sports.
“Being a free agent, you lose a bit of yourself when you’re not playing football. I’ve played football since I was six years old and for seven months, I’ve not been able to.
“Having the opportunity to go and play football, wherever that might be, it gives me that purpose. It gives me something to wake up and train for. A stadium like the Copper Box, which is full of people, live on Sky, it gives me something to focus on.
“My goal is I want to get back involved in football next season, and I want to hopefully sign somewhere. I’m 29 years old. I’ve got plenty of legs still in me. This is to keep me fit, to give me a little bit of purpose back in myself as a person and to just enjoy football.”