Jamie Carragher has been slammed for taking a post-fight photo with Liam Smith after the Scouser appeared to direct homophobic comments at Chris Eubank Jr. Smith stopped Eubank Jr in the fourth round of their domestic grudge match on Saturday but came under fire for his line of questioning at Thursday’s pre-fight press conference.
“You go on about girls, has anybody in this room ever seen you with a girl? You got something to tell us? You are 33 and you said on the programme you want kids,” Smith shouted at his rival.
“This is for no laughs I am just asking, do you want to tell us something? You are putting up pictures with Neymar in limousines. No one in this room has seen you with a woman. If you are happy just tell us; it isn’t a dig. You have to have a woman to have a kid.”
Carragher, who joined Smith for a game of header tennis at his media workout, a day before the ugly exchange, uploaded a picture of the pair celebrating together post-fight, with the caption: “What a performance @LiamBeefySmith #SmithEubank.”
“Next time Sky Sports are having a discussion about homophobia in football and you’re trying to act all enlightened we’ll remember this @Carra23,” added @MrPMHarrison
@scottydog74 also wrote: “Not a great picture to be associated with, he stooped to the lowest of comments and his hate inside for these kind of comments will stay with him forever!!”
Smith did go on to apologise for his conduct at the post-fight press conference, saying: “I apologise to anyone offended by what I said. I’m not homophobic in any way, shape or form, I’m far from it. That’s not me as a man. If anyone’s offended and I’ve come across that way, I apologise.”
But for many supporters, the damage has already been done.