Matt Hancock claims he was wearing the same Newcastle United shirt which he auctioned off during the Covid-19 pandemic as he was given it back as a gift.
Back in May 2020, the then Secretary of State for Health and Social Care auctioned off his much-loved signed Toon top to help make scrubs for NHS workers.
However the MP for West Suffolk appeared to be wearing the same black and white shirt in a video of himself which he posted on TikTok ahead of the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
Read more: Newcastle Wembley defeat just the beginning as blunt Eddie Howe message close to being removed
In the video, he says: "So exciting. If you've been a Newcastle fan we've waited years for this. We haven't been to Wembley for years. This is the most exciting thing that's happened since Kevin Keegan. Bring it on."
Many fans took to social media to point out that the former I'm a Celebrity contestant was wearing the same Newcastle shirt he'd previously donated to Radio DJ Chris Evans' online auction.
One person tweeted (sic): "you'd think the best part of this is the fact he's wearing a signed shirt. in fact the best part is that it appears to be the same signed shirt he promised to auction for an NHS charity in 2020".
Another person asked: "So you didn't sell the shirt to raise money for the NHS @MattHancock?"
Matt Hancock has since admitted that the signed shirt he was wearing on Sunday was the same one which he'd previously auctioned off.
However he claims that the person who bought the top, which is signed by the Newcastle team, gave it back to him as a gift.
A spokesperson for Matt Hancock told ChronicleLiv: "Matt put his signed Newcastle football shirt up for sale as part of Chris Evans' NHS charity appeal to raise money for scrubs, but the person who bought it very kindly gave Matt's beloved shirt back to him as a gift."
In a follow up video, which he posted on TikTok, the MP says: "Really gutted about the result last night, I mean to come so close.
"A load of people have been in contact about my shirt that I was wearing last night and they spotted that it's the same one that I auctioned for charity a couple of years ago.
"And what happened was the guy who bought it then gave it back to me as a gift, which is really kind of him, I'm very grateful. So I've still got my beloved signed shirt."
Matt Hancock previously said the shirt was gifted to him by his uncle and it was because of him that he became a lifelong Newcastle fan.
Chris Evans held an online auction in 2020 to raise money for Scrubs Glorious Scrubs, a voluntary sewing collaborative making non-surgical scrubs for NHS workers.
Celebrities including Ant and Dec and Rod Stewart took part, donating personal items for fans to bid on. The auction, run by BIN-IN Auctions, raised almost £600,000 for the cause.
The MP offered to auction the shirt to raise funds for the NHS. In the description of the lot, he called it "my pride and joy".
He said: "This shirt was gifted to me by Uncle Dave. It was because of him that I am now a lifelong supporter and fan of Newcastle United.
"Signed by the team. The top as seen hanging behind me on the bookshelf during many of my Skype interviews - I will sign it for you also if you like."
The Magpies lost 2-0 to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday. It was the first time they had reached a cup final since 1999.
Read more:
- Newcastle United fans show amazing support and unwavering loyalty after cup final heartbreak
- 'My words don’t do it justice' - Howe explains 'exceptional' sight he witnessed on Newcastle bus
- Eddie Howe hails resilient Newcastle performance as he sends message to diehard Magpies support
- Newcastle United hit by new fitness worry for Bruno Guimaraes after Wembley injury
- 'Electric' performance will leave Eddie Howe with more 'really tough' Newcastle decisions
