Marcus Rashford was in attendance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to watch Chris Eubank Jr's victory over Conor Benn, just hours after he missed Aston Villa's FA Cup loss to Crystal Palace
Sport Jack McEachen and Chris Burns Senior Sports Writer 11:49, 27 Apr 2025Updated 11:50, 27 Apr 2025
Marcus Rashford's appearance at Chris Eubank Jr's victory over Conor Benn has sparked a social media storm. The Manchester United star, currently on loan at Aston Villa, was among the celebrities who attended the boxing match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Rashford joined stars like Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, Hollywood icon Idris Elba, Love Island host Maya Jama, and Villa team-mate Ollie Watkins, ringside to soak up the atmosphere before Eubank Jr claimed a unanimous win.
A video of Rashford, donning sunglasses and carrying a fizzy drink at the event, quickly circulated online. While footballers are often seen near the stage, many criticised Rashford for not playing in Villa's FA Cup semi-final tie with Crystal Palace, only to appear at the boxing event hours later.
The England international was left out of the squad entirely, with Villa boss Unai Emery confirming that Rashford had sustained a hamstring injury that could sideline him for several weeks and even the rest of the season, reports the Express.
When asked about Rashford by the BBC, the Villa boss gave a curt response: "You know because you made the question before. I told you, he's injured."
Since joining Villa on loan from United in January, Rashford has become a regular at Villa Park, replacing Watkins as the club's first-choice striker. However, he was notably absent at Wembley for one of his new team's biggest games of the season.
Article continues below
Rashford's absence was felt heavily as they suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Palace, with Eberechi Eze scoring a stunning strike and Ismaila Sarr netting twice.
Rashford was also seen greeting fans in one of the lounges at the stadium, but his appearance was questioned on social media due to the nature of Villa’s dismal defeat and the 27-year-old’s surprise absence, with one fan even labelling him 'tone deaf'.
One fan said: "And people thought it was a Amorim problem. Looks like a Villa problem now", while another added: "What a shock. Rashford putting his own image about his (current) club. Man utd fans have seen this for years. And other teams fans question why utd fans have had enough".
A third added: "Turn your brain on, lad", while a fourth said: "Trying to be modern-day Beckham".
However, he was also defended by many X users, with one Villa fan posting: "As a Villa fan, I don’t care about this. If he wasn’t right to play today then he wasn’t right. I don’t expect him to sit at home. He’s not cart-wheeling his way around."
The football star's attendance at British boxing events isn't new; earlier in the month, he'd met Ben Whittaker before his bout against Liam Cameron. His visit came shortly after playing against Leicester, as Rashford spent time with Whittaker just before his step into the squared circle.
Rashford and his Villa teammates have a rare week-long break before their next match against Fulham on May 3. However, given Emery's recent comments, it seems unlikely that the forward will be included in the line-up.
Article continues below
With only four matches left this season and uncertainty surrounding his future at the club, there is speculation that Rashford may have already played his last game for Villa.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
