When a stadium steward confiscated a young Aston Villa fan’s banner demanding a player’s shirt, the fan broke down in tears until his hero intervened to save the day.
The youngster had requested the winger Moussa Diaby’s shirt at Villa’s away Europa Conference League match against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night by bringing a sizable homemade banner. However, an AZ Stadion steward approached him, took the banner, and then seemed to discard it. Dutch teams have outlawed supporters carrying banners requesting players’ shirts—a move that has generated controversy and grown more widespread in recent years. The boy’s emotional exchange with the steward was captured on camera, bringing tears to his eyes. A second stadium employee comforted him.
The young fan was overjoyed when Diaby, 24, gave him a shirt with his name on the back after the game. Some fans felt that the stewards’ enforcement of the no-banner policy was unduly strict. Someone commented on the internet: “All the hours this kid have spent making it, looking forward and having his hopes up, brought the sign and then some man throw it in the bin.” One more said, “Steward needs to be fired.” “Everyone boo the fun police,” uttered a third. Some, however, felt that the stewards’ deeds were even more commendable. To be fair all signs begging for shirts should be thrown in the bin.” Someone said All signs asking for shirts should be banned,” remarked a second fan. Another commented: “Rules are the rules sadly, But Diaby is still a classy man for giving the kid his shirt later!” Villa’s four goals from John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, Leon Bailey, and Ollie Watkins helped them defeat AZ 4-1 and move up to second place in their Conference League group.
After nine games, the Birmingham team is currently ranked fifth in the Premier League, demonstrating their impressive domestic play this season.
Diaby, a French player, recently joined the team after leaving German team Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.
