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Man Utd fan breaks silence after having verbal altercation with Darren Fletcher

A Man Utd fan breaks his silence after having a verbal altercation with former player turned technical director Darren Fletcher recently.

Jamie Caplan, a 25 year old Red devils supporter has revealed what was said in his X-rated spat with Fletcher on the subs bench at Old Trafford during the 1-1 draw against Leicester on Saturday.

The fan shouted at the bench in fury as Kelechi Iheanacho scored for Leicester in the Premier League tie, according to his account to the Manchester Evening News.

Caplan said that he was angry at the lack of effort from the United squad but didn’t aim his words specifically at Fletcher until, he claims, the Scot asked him ‘who the f*** are you?’

“I’m not even bothered about the result,” Jamie tells the MEN. “At the end of the day, I care about the effort being put in and that was what my argument was about. It was like they didn’t care. The reaction from the bench was they didn’t care. The reaction from the players was that they didn’t care and that’s what I said.

“I said, ‘you don’t f—–g care’. It wasn’t directed at Fletcher personally or anything towards him. He’s the one who took offence and turned around and asked me who the f–k I was and to sit down. That’s when I went back at Fletcher because I took that very personally.

“I then went into a bit of a rage, so he didn’t say much then. And then Scott McTominay turned around. I couldn’t make out what he was saying because I was already walking up the stairs by this point.

“As a matchgoing fan. I put a lot of money into the club, I go watch them a lot. I watch a lot of non-league football, so I know the levels of them wanting it isn’t there (at United). You can go and watch any non-league team and see the difference, it’s a shambles.

“‘Where’s the f—–g fight? You don’t care.’ That’s pretty much word-for-word what I said. He (Fletcher) didn’t like it. But he can’t be in denial, he was there. He knows the standards that are required to be top-level. He was in a dressing room with Keane and if he turned around to me and say that’s a good enough United side then he’s a liar and I don’t believe him. Just look at all the old pros, they all say the same thing, it’s just not there, the desire. It isn’t there.

“I wasn’t the only one in the stadium shouting these things at the same time. When Fletcher is saying, ‘who are you?’ He’s not just saying it to me, he’s saying it to all of these people.”

Contrary to reports, Jamie claims he wasn’t ejected by stewards, but instead was requested he sat back down, however he had had enough and made way for the exit, followed by a steward. Once on the concourse, Jamie was informed he could not leave.

“I asked to leave,” he explains. “I went up the stairs and then once I got to the concourse I was stopped from leaving the stadium. Up until that point.

“They’d actually told me to sit back down. I said, ‘it’s all right mate, I’m leaving’. Got up to leave, started walking up the stairs, and then they were following behind me and once we got down into where the bar bit is, that’s when they said, ‘you’re not going anywhere now, we’re getting GMP involved’.

“I tried to get past them to get out of the stadium, they just held me there. I had a bit of a rant again. Obviously, Fred scored and I can hear the United fans are cheering. And they all said, ‘ah look, it was all for nothing now’. At the end of the day, it isn’t for nothing, it isn’t a one-off thing. It’s been building up over a good couple of seasons now that they don’t care.”

Jamie was eventually allowed to leave the stadium 10 minutes later and stressed his treatment was understanding. “They were fine with me, and we had a bit of a laugh. I said, ‘where are you taking me?’ and he said he was taking me to hell! I then walked out of the stadium and said, ‘you’re lucky I was allowed to leave and walk out of the stadium’. That was pretty much it from there. I was angry and I walked away.”

Some fans applauded as Jamie left the ground, though wasn’t sure whether that was in support of venting his anger at his side’s performance against Leicester. The club has not been in touch with him since the incident and he planned to go back, but not in the south stand.

Lifelong United fan Jamie Caplan first went to Old Trafford in 2002

Man Utd fan Jamie Caplan breaks silence after having verbal altercation with Darren Fletcher (Credit: Manchester Evening News)

“To be fair, I’d lost it at that point,” he replies when questioned if he noticed the clapping. “I didn’t know what anybody else was doing. But if they were booing that was the only noise they made all game. I won’t be sitting in the south stand again!

“I was sat there, singing along on my own on that front row, probably a bit embarrassing. But I think that’s what the game’s about. It’s about going and venting a bit of frustration. There’s a line – I didn’t overstep any line, I wasn’t personal, so I just see it as a blowout and that’s what football’s about.

“If I’m allowed to go back, I will go back. It’s my club. I love it. I just love being there. I would go back, definitely.”

The club are reportedly open to having a talk with Jamie to resolving the situation and he is appreciative of some of the measures the Old Trafford outfit have made this season.

“They’ve acted with respect to the fans, it has been slightly better,” he says. “They’ve got fans on the advisory board now, we’ve got the singing section and the prices have come down, so they have moved things in the right direction, which I do appreciate. So hopefully that continues.”

“I would like to speak to the club and get it resolved, I don’t want to get banned but I am happy to stand up for myself and if a banning is what they decide, that’s what they’ll decide.”

“I’ve been to most of the home games we’ve had [this season]. I even did Middlesbrough at home. Burton Albion was another £40 a few seasons ago. I just love going to Old Trafford and sometimes the emotions do get the better of me and probably did a bit on this occasion.

“But I still don’t think I was in the wrong and I’d do it again.”

Twitter users had their say as the Man Utd fan breaks his silence after having a verbal altercation with Darren Fletcher…

@StivoUtrecht: Fans need to learn to take it if they give it. Since when is it ok to swear at people like that? As if Fletcher doesn’t care… disgraceful fan behavior

@MLDomz: This is exactly why rashford shouldn’t have apologised

@touchlinefracas: Interested to see what the big man United accounts say about this, no way can he be talking to a fan like this?

@manuseb: To be fair I felt the same as Jamie. The players looked in worse shape than in a pre season game. And plenty there including me were asking for more from the players. Fred not included.

@JohnVGraham: Fletch probably agrees with him, deep down, so vented his frustration back. Shambles is true; watched Juve/Inter & Rangers/Celtic that weekend after our match – The effort, determination, desire & work ethic was many levels above United’s performance. #istandwithjamie #MUFC

@luke_blodwell: Well done Jamie, I’m sure there are millions agreeing with you.

@Galto: Should have asked Fletcher ‘what he was supposed to be doing’. His role, and the vagueness of it, is one of the many signs that #MUFC is as disorganised off the pitch as they are on it.

@mufc_retro: Get fletcher and murtough out

@UtdA5h: Well said Jamie Caplan 👏🏼

@UnitedHeath: On behalf of United fans.. Thanks Jamie 👏🏼

@xwardos: It would have been nice to see a few thousand saying the same thing. i’m sure thousands feel the same way.

@stan_7701: Fair play fella, it’s clear for us all to see and u and every fan have the right to voice your opinion..as shown over the last 2 years football is nothing without fans, fletcher didn’t like to hear the truth, probably felt embarrassed, and rightly so!!

@MufcGOATX20: #Justice4Jamie!!!!! 😅 Us fans have every right to question if players, managers, coaches care etc when they don’t perform week after week!

@jonmufc44: Genuinely can’t understand how Fletcher or any of the players can watch much better teams like Liverpool & City & see how much more effort, energy, desire, workrate they play with and think what Utd are doing is anywhere near enough. They’re either deluded or just don’t care.

@rodneymufc: He’s right I would of said more shocking this season and Saturday was a disgrace

@SteveCoulthurst: I watch Rochdale AFC in the Second Division, and even though at the moment they’re struggling, you see more effort and passion at Spotland that you’ll ever see at OT. Overpaid entitled clowns. The club needs an enema.

@avtarakatari: I was there on Saturday and this guy is 100 right. They don’t care. @SangheraGurmukh said event he stewards said after the game that why you guys standing waiting for the players. They don’t care about you. Go home

@samcritch85: Disgusted by this club more and more everyday

@LuvFB_HateFifa: He should’ve insisted the stewart’s get the GMP because the only crime being committed was he was being held against his will & tortured by having to watch this current Utd team try to play football

@J0ecitizen: #IstandwithJamie many of them don’t care, some do and it’s probably hard for them also in a team full of spoilt brats. 100% effort is all fans can truly ask for and we aren’t getting it.

@KnightkingU: State of the club when it’s Technically Director is not only on the bench but also having verbals with fans. It never cease to amaze me how far this club has fallen.

@CraigWilliam89: Shambles. Well done to him. He spoke for 1000s inside old Trafford. They don’t care, fletcher shouldn’t be on the bench and a handful of players shouldn’t even have the honour of wearing the shirt. What a mess.

@themountainbox1: Get fletcher out of the club. The problem is people like him leeching for pay and power. Big standard average player with an attitude that stinks.

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