UFC star ‘Paddy the Baddy’ embroiled in Twitter spat with Leeds United supporters
Professional MMA fighter Paddy Pimblett was involved in numerous Twitter spats with Leeds United supporters on Saturday evening.
The UFC star, who rose to fame earlier this year, hails from Liverpool and is an ardent supporter of the Reds.
However, he has been trading online blows with fans of other clubs recently, notably Leeds, and that came to the boil on Saturday, with Pimblett hitting out at perceived insults about the Hillsborough disaster thaw saw 97 football fans lose their lives as a result of gross negligence by the police and ambulance services.
After one user shared a video of Leeds fans during last month’s 3-0 loss to Liverpool and suggested they were mocking the disaster, Pimblett wrote via his personal Twitter profile: “Oh but this is okay isn’t it Leeds fans? This is all good isn’t it because it’s to Liverpool fans.”
There were numerous tweets directed at Pimblett referring to “victims”, a long-running jibe at Liverpool fans.
Pimblett did later say that his opinion on Leeds supporters was not completely spoilt, replying to one user: “Thank you very much fella, some of your fans have made me think different of Leeds fans the past week but you’ve just given me some fresh faith.”
Never stoop that low
Pimblett has already emerged as a fairly controversial character since bursting onto the UFC scene, but one thing that he certainly has right is that it is never acceptable to mock the Hillsborough disaster, or indeed anything of that nature.
It remains one of the most tragic and regrettable events in the history of English football, and the victims should only be remembered with respect.
No one wants to remove jokes and banter within football, but these sorts of disgusting attempts to rile opposition supporters has to stop.
No club is perfect, but it is incumbent upon all fans to call out and condemn vile acts when they are seen or heard, online or in stadiums.
That is the only way to minimise and eventually stop hate and discrimination in football.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are in pursuit of this ex-Premier League midfielder with 14 goal contributions so far this campaign.