USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie turned a lot of heads in Friday night's clash with England after wiping his hands with the bib of a photographer for the throw-in. The Juventus defender has divided opinion on social media for his actions with some finding it hilarious while others maintain that it was disrespectful.
The US soccer star felt the heat of the duel and was forced to use unorthodox means as he readied himself to dispatch a throw in inside the 37th minute. With his palms a little sweaty, the 24-year-old did not want to run the danger of the ball slipping out of them during his throw.
As there were no towels laying around, McKennie motioned towards an official photographer sitting pitch-side and dried his hands with the bib. The other cameramen were left in stitches, as the victim looked on rather baffled and clueless. Despite others praising the Juve star for his ingenuity, others claim that the gesture was disrespectful to the photographer.
Weston McKennie just wiped his hands on the photographer's vest @USMNT pic.twitter.com/VECBtkaiI9
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 25, 2022
New found ICK: McKennie using the photographer vest to wipe his hands #USAvENG pic.twitter.com/NONaGOI5gV
— Elle (@ellekate_) November 25, 2022
McKennie wiping his hands with the camera man is so disrespectful. Most Americans are so condescending smh pic.twitter.com/UARUc2HtZi
— Kobby Morant (@KobbyMorant) November 25, 2022
Nasty dude. No manner.
— AM10 (@BigTrussWooHoo2) November 25, 2022
He's from the US, so it doesn't really surprise me.
Disrespectful in my books
— Barca, Barca, Barcaaa (@PiqueMajestic3) November 25, 2022
This is a disrespectful act from @WMckennie..... Never again pic.twitter.com/qFgUMucULI
— Mikey (@FlezMicky) November 25, 2022
Everyone finds it funny but l find ut disrespectful
— MR SMITH BK (@BukamuT) November 25, 2022
That's so tasteless. He could have just motioned that he needed to dry his hands. Photographers definitely have towels around to wipe their lenses.
— Cran (@crannytran) November 25, 2022