MANCHESTER UNITED player Jesse Lingard was the victim of vile abuse following the FA Cup victory over Derby County last night.
The midfielder, whose form has come under fierce criticism this season, played the full 90 minutes as the Red Devils sealed their place in the quarter-finals with a 3-0 win over the Rams.
The 27-year-old, who has only bagged twice in 35 matches this campaign leading to an axe from the England squad, has become the target of boo boys for his poor displays.
But yesterday that backlash crossed the line after video footage emerged of Lingard being on the receiving sickening abuse and taunts from fans as he boarded the United team bus.
The clip, which soon went viral, shows one man repeatedly saying ‘f*** off, Jesse’ and ‘Jesse, you’re s***’.
Another individual is then heard mocking Lingard for his lack of goals and assists in the Premier League.
The Warrington-born star is struggling to return to the form that made him a regular for both club and country.
And this is not the first time he has been targeted with numerous trolls on social media aiming digs at him for several months.
Lingard has been repeatedly dropped by United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with the Red Devils chief even hinting this week the attacker’s time at Old Trafford could soon be up.
He said: “I am not going to feel sorry for you [the player], you have to make yourself available for the next game and competitive in situations.
“That is what I like. I like to see players who say, ‘okay, he has left me out for two or three games without explanation.
“I don’t have to explain every time. Sometimes I do, yeah, but it is a way for me to say I need more.
“You can’t just speak to them 100 times and say, ‘now we need a change in you’. You have had opportunities. ‘I’ve got to make decisions and one day… well, you give them one warning and that’s it probably, and then the next thing maybe they are not here anymore.
“You don’t have to explain every time then. You might have to think about it after.”
The latest case of abuse towards footballers comes just 24 hours after Eric Dier shocked the world by leaping into the crowd to confront an individual following Tottenham’s FA Cup defeat to Norwich.
Spurs say they are close to identifying the fan who aimed “horrendous” abuse at Dier and rowed with the star’s brother in sensational scenes.
The England man, 26, leapt over advertising hoardings and raced up the West Stand following his side’s penalty shoot-out loss.
A source revealed the fan had been screaming “horrendous” abuse in the direction of Dier.
His younger brother, Patrick – who was seated nearby – then tried to calm the man down.
It is believed the pair got into a heated exchange and the Three Lions star jumped into the stands to protect his sibling.
