Countdown star Rachel Riley received horrific comments from Twitter trolls after a comment she made on Sky Sports’ Friday Night Football.
The TV host was commentating on the West Ham versus Tottenham Hotspur game, and reportedly said “It’s deja vu for Spurs, isn’t it? Proper bottle jobs.”
Spurs fans did not take kindly to the “bottle jobs” comment, and she soon began to receive personal and sexist messages.
Rachel was quick to fire back and defend her words.
“Didn’t mean any offence to Spurs or their fans tonight just a surprise to slip v WHam with their form on paper [sic],” she wrote on Twitter. “Personal abuse is hideous.”
“I love football, always have, always will,” added the Manchester United supporter.
“Banter is fun, abuse is not whoever/whatever/wherever #respect.”
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One viewer said that Rachel’s initial comment had annoyed them “more than the result.”
Many of the Twitter comments are too horrible to repeat, but other viewers were quick to support the TV host.
“For the Spurs fans abusing Rachel Riley, please stop,” wrote one. “It was a stupid comment to make in the heat of the moment. No need for rage at all.”
Others took her comments in good jest.
“I liked Rachel Riley before last night but after she called Spurs ‘proper bottle jobs’, I think I’m ready to propose,” wrote another.
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The Friday Night Football programme, which Rachel co-hosts with Jeff Stelling, was being aired for the first time in almost five months, and aims to provide a “lighter and more humorous” take on matches.
Rachel says she loves the drama that comes with her favourite sport.
“Football is a soap opera in so many ways,” she said before the programme was launched. “There is going to be more banter, arrogance, headlines and chat.”