Piers Morgan, Laura Woods and a number of other celebrities have criticised Arsenal FC, after a video emerged on social media of the squad signing a young mascot's shirt before their game on Sunday.
The clip in question was posted to Arsenal's official Twitter page, and showed a young girl meeting the players as the entered the changing rooms ahead of their Premier League match against West Ham.
And while the players briefly stopped to sign a jersey for the youngster, a number of social media users were unimpressed that they didn't engage with the smiling mascot whatsoever.
Read more: Piers Morgan shares glitzy celeb meal with Gary Lineker, Amanda Holden, James Arthur and more
Sharing the video, Piers Morgan wrote: "Come on guys, at least one of you say hello to her?!!" while BBC presenter Nick Knowles, added: "I suggest @Arsenal you get her and her family back and give your players another go at being decent human beings - admittedly they’d have to be coached into it but it might be something that sticks with some of them if it’s pointed out."
Former England cricketer, Ryan Sidebottom, said: "Be humble be respectful and treat people how you expect to be treated !! Remember you were in that position growing up wanting to meet your heroes & idols #neverforgetwereyoucamefrom."
Speaking on TalkSPORT, Laura Woods, said: "It doesn't take a lot just to acknowledge somebody, and a little smile...It's quite symptomatic that video, I think, of football now or footballers now. What's a bit disappointing and to kind of add a little bit more context to it is, I actually messaged the club because the club put it out and I think they put it out thinking 'they've all stopped and signed the shirt, this is great, look what they're doing'.
"But maybe that in itself is the problem, somewhere along the line there's become a disconnect between what you're meant to do for those kind of mascots. The club did say look, it's part of a matchday experience, so that's not the only interaction she had with the players.
"She was a mascot, she went out on the pitch with them as well and would have been on the pitch during warm-ups. And I think sometimes with these things with footballers, there's a lot of stuff we don't see. That's not excusing that video because I watched it a couple of times over and after I watched it I went 'oh wait was it cut off afterwards, maybe they did' and I went back and watched it and they didn't, they carried on."
She added: "I understand it's a pre-match routine and perhaps you're in your bubble and that's kind of what I've heard back as well, but how long does it take just to make eye contact or something. I looked at that little girl and her face and the way that she's waiting for the eye contact or some kind of acknowledgement."
Co-host, Ally McCoist, added: "I thought it was shocking, I really did. I've been saying for a long time - the distance between, the gap now between the top footballer and the fans is bigger than it's ever been," going on: "That was agony watching that."
He continued: "Somebody must give her a pat on the head, or a cuddle or something, you know what I mean?"
However, the girl's father has defended the players after the video's controversy - insisting that his daughter enjoyed a 'very special' experience with the squad. He wrote: "My daughter had a lovely time as Mascot for @Arsenal. There was only a small window to meet the players and she enjoyed it very much.
"Odegaard is her favourite player so to hold his hand onto the pitch was very special."
Read next:
- ITV Good Morning Britain announces Martin Lewis as Piers Morgan replacement
- Good Morning Britain's Susanna Reid makes 'defiant' Piers Morgan move two years after his exit
- Kenny Doughty quits Vera as actor announces ITV departure in emotional Instagram statement
- Giovanna Fletcher dines out with Rosie Ramsey at 'hidden' gem as she takes to Newcastle stage
- Denise Welch has A-list guests including Tom Cruise in hysterics at Michael Caine's birthday party
