Despite being a charity event, one Premier League legend has been banned from participating in Soccer Aid following a “string of complaints.” The much-anticipated event has taken place every year for the last 20, and this year’s match - set for West Ham’s London Stadium on May 31 - boasts a star-studded lineup.
So far, 30 footballers and celebrities have been confirmed for the game, which will see Robbie Williams go head-to-head in the dugout with Olympic icon and world’s fastest man Usain Bolt to raise money for UNICEF. Jordi Alba leads the football debutants, alongside female stars Jen Beattie and Ali Krieger, all of whom will play for the Rest of the World team.
Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Theo Walcott, Toni Duggan, Joe Hart, and Steph Houghton are among the England stars, while history will be made as actor Owen Cooper becomes the youngest-ever player and first-ever teenager after his role in the hit Netflix series 'Adolescence'. But while bigger names help raise more money for charity, one of the Premier League’s biggest stars finds himself alone on the ban list.
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Yaya Toure - a Manchester City legend and widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation after winning three Premier League titles - played 73 minutes in the 2018 Soccer Aid at Old Trafford and was set to feature for the Rest of the World again in 2020. However, he exited the squad in disgrace.
Toure was axed from the fixture after The Sun reported that he had offered to hire sex workers for his teammates at the five-star hotel in a message sent in the WhatsApp group chat. The Ivorian also posted a video of a naked woman in a bath in the chat, which included female players and stars from both teams.
UNICEF and ITV received a "string of complaints" about Toure’s message, and he was criticised at breakfast in the hotel on the following Friday morning. After it was concluded his "behaviour didn't align with the values of the event and its cause," the former Barcelona midfielder was removed from the lineup and forced to issue an apology on social media for his "inappropriate joke".
Yaya Toure's Apology After Soccer Aid Controversy in 2020
Yaya Toure in action for Manchester City
Manchester City's Yaya Toure
“I would like to apologise to everyone involved in Soccer Aid for an inappropriate joke I deeply regret," Toure wrote on X once the dust had settled on his misconduct. "It was meant as a joke, however, I lacked thorough consideration for the feelings of all the other participants. That being said, I deleted the jokes within minutes and I immediately apologised to all inside the group."
"We gather for a good cause and this deviates the focus of the game which is to bring everyone together to help children around the world. It's sad to see an inappropriate joke I made attract the attention which should be fully devoted to the beauty of the charity game.
"Regardless of the circumstances, I want to take full responsibility. I am a grown man who should not be engaged in such jokes. I am very sorry for my mistake and wish everyone all the best with Soccer Aid on Sunday in raising awareness and funds for important causes."
That year's Soccer Aid fixture was played behind closed doors and saw England win 4-3 on penalties. Toure has not been invited back to play in Soccer Aid since but made a surprise appearance on Sky Sports on Sunday after watching Arsenal's 2-1 win over Chelsea, where he came under fire for his comments about the current Premier League leaders.