IShowSpeed faced backlash from Manchester City fans at the UEFA Champions League Quarter-final match between Real Madrid and Manchester City.
The well-known YouTube streamer Darren, who is popularly known as “IShowSpeed” was engaged in a heated confrontation with Manchester City fans for showing support for Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium on April 17, 2024.
Despite his long history of creating football-related content and attending matches, some of City’s supporters chastised him for celebrating Rodrygo’s goal during the second leg of the match.
Darren, who had even traveled to the 2022 Qatar World Cup to see Cristiano Ronaldo, was streaming the game from the stands when the incident occurred.
Ahead of the match, tension was high following the 3-3 draw in the first leg at Santiago Bernabeu on April 9.
The visitors took the lead in the first half, with Rodrygo scoring the opening goal of the night in the 12th minute.
However, there was a moment of controversy when IShowSpeed, seated among the home fans, stood up to celebrate Real Madrid’s away goal.
The social media star, also known as Darren Watkins Jr, was captured on camera cheering and exclaiming “Let’s go, let’s go!” after the goal was scored.
Manchester City’s fans surrounding him insisted he sit down, with one man confronting him for cheering for the opposition while in a Manchester City stand and requesting he stop streaming.
The man furiously demanded: “Turn off the camera, you’re in City fan territory. Don’t cheer for the opposition while you’re here. No Madrid cheers.”
Meanwhile, there was a mix-up when Rodrygo scored, as IShowSpeed mistakenly thought it was Vinicius Jr. who had found the back of the net.
In response to the confrontation, the streamer defiantly cheered for his team, stating, “Let’s go Vini! What? Sit down? But they scored. They want me to sit down when they score, seriously? Let’s go Rodrygo!”
Another person interrupted, telling him to end the stream, and warning him that he could not be live.
He stated: “Speed, you can’t be live. You can’t be live.”
The two engaged in a heated argument, with the streamer eventually deciding to end the live broadcast, expressing his reluctance to do so to his viewers.
Speed noted: “Chat, I can’t go live, wait I can’t show my face. Alright, chat, whoa. I have to end stream because I am life to show my face.”
After discussing with his friend, IShowSpeed realized that the reason for being asked to stop streaming might be because he had expressed support for Real Madrid.
He explained, “I don’t understand why they are upset, I am just showing my face. But I guess it’s because I cheered for Madrid.”
Eventually, the Defending champions Manchester City were knocked out by Real Madrid following a 4-3 penalty shootout in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal.
The match ended 1-1 on the night, and 4-4 on aggregate, following a 3-3 draw at the Bernabeu before Madrid won 4-3 on penalty.
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