In the hours leading up to Manchester United’s opening match in the 2023/24 Champions League campaign against Bayern Munich, star winger Jadon Sancho found himself at the center of attention, not on the pitch, but in the virtual world of EA Sports FC 24.
While his teammates were gearing up for a crucial encounter on the football field, Sancho was spotted indulging in some gaming action alongside friends, including AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham, during a live stream on YouTube.
The YouTube stream was hosted by content creator JCC, who was showcasing the Pro Clubs game mode in EA Sports FC 24 to his viewers. This latest installment is an eagerly awaited addition to the iconic FIFA video game series, beloved by football fans across the globe. Pro Clubs allows gamers to create customized players before uniting them with friends in a virtual football team.
Officially set to launch on September 29, EA Sports FC 24 granted early access to a select group of notable figures, including Sancho himself.
On the eve of United’s showdown against Bayern, screenshots circulating on social media revealed a player with the gamer tag “Sanch_x10” enjoying some gaming downtime.
While it’s well within a player’s rights to unwind and relax as they see fit during their leisure hours, Sancho’s decision to engage in gaming just before a crucial match with the Bundesliga giants did raise eyebrows among some United supporters.
Sancho has, unfortunately, been making headlines for the wrong reasons in recent weeks. The controversy began when manager Erik ten Hag disclosed that the 23-year-old had been excluded from the squad that faced Arsenal on September 3 due to subpar training performances. In response, Sancho took to social media to counter his manager’s claims, effectively accusing Ten Hag of dishonesty and implying he was being scapegoated.
Reports emerged that Ten Hag requested an apology from Sancho, which the player refused to provide. Consequently, he was isolated from the team and relegated to solitary training. Sancho’s reinstatement into the squad is contingent upon his willingness to apologize.
As a result of this disciplinary action, Sancho missed consecutive matches against Brighton and Bayern, leaving fans and pundits alike pondering the ramifications of his actions on and off the field.