There’s pretty much just the one rule that mascots have to live by – don’t shout for the other team.
Ryan Dearnley, Reading’s mascot for their FA Cup tie against Arsenal failed to uphold this unwritten mascot vow when he jokingly said “I hope Arsenal win” on a video filmed by his local paper.
Huddersfield fan Dearnley won the chance to walk onto the Wembley pitch with Reading’s players during a half-time draw when the Huddersfield hosted Steve Clarke’s side earlier this season.
Most Read: Reading fan complaints lead to Huddersfield boy being dropped for #FaCupSemiFinal: http://t.co/JGXDtV1YN4 pic.twitter.com/W5SCd92fwu
— Get Reading (@getreading) April 17, 2015
The young lad’s grandfather told the Huddersfield Examiner:
“It’s his first ever trip to London and I think he’s more looking forward to seeing Buckingham Palace than walking out with the Reading players!”
And the questionable loyalty of young Ryan led to the launch of an online poll by Reading fans who voted by an overwhelming majority 85% for the mascot’s removal.
When news of the controversy reached the FA, they duly told Dearnley that he would not be required at Wembley tonight, a decision that prompted his very vocal grandad to tell The Sun:
“For the football loudmouths to react in this way to a few words from a ten-year-old is ridiculous. I even wrote an apology to Reading fans on Facebook.”
But the Reading fans are not so easy to win over and all Dearnley has to show for his troubles is a hotel room in London where we’re sure he’ll be watching Manchester United v Chelsea on the telly.
H/t to ProjectBabb
