Awkward Ed Sheeran gatecrashing Ruben Amorim interview sees talkSPORT's hosts clash
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Jeff Stelling has come to the defence of Ipswich Town minority stakeholder Ed Sheeran.
The musician and Tractor Boys fan gatecrashed Ruben Amorim’s post-match interview on Sunday.
Amorim appeared live on Sky Sports after Manchester United’s visit to Portman Road, where his first game in charge ended in a 1-1 draw.
The new Red Devils boss was midway through his post-match debrief when it was bizarrely interrupted by Sheeran.
Stelling’s fellow talkSPORT host Shebahn Aherne was unimpressed with the awkward encounter, though.
Speaking on Breakfast, she asked: “I mean did that irritate anyone else or was it just me who did not like that moment?”
However, Stelling responded: “I didn’t think there was anything offensive about it at all.
“I have to say it’s his club, he’s a shareholder there, the club themselves say he’s massively important to promote Ipswich Town and I don’t know what was going on in the background as to why he appeared on screen, whether he was being encouraged to do that.”
Aherne added: “But he had nothing to say. He just shakes (Jamie) Redknapp’s hand, stands there smiling, Ruben Amorim doesn’t look entirely happy about the whole situation.”
Ally McCoist agreed, explaining: “It was slightly uncomfortable wasn’t it? I think, I don’t know, could they have handled it differently? When he walks on I think the first thing you’ve got to do is ask him a question.
“I know Ruben Amorim’s there and it’s uncomfortable but unless you ask him a question it’s going to be even more uncomfortable. Do you know what I mean?
“I do take your point, it was about what’s he doing there, asking him a question or something. He just shook Jamie’s hand and disappeared.”
Stelling remained supportive of Sheeran, though, continuing: “He did and look, Sky would have paid any amount of money to have Ed Sheeran live on TV.
“Look, they spent the afternoon showing shots of him in the stands all afternoon. Now I’ve got no idea whether he’s encouraged to go on set or not but I don’t see what the big issue is.
“Ruben Amorim knows who Ed Sheeran is, unless he’s come not from Portugal but from a different planet you know, so where was the issue? Surely he knows Ed Sheeran’s connection with Ipswich as well.”
Amorim had taken charge of his first match since becoming United boss on Sunday, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw.
Aherne and Stelling’s back and forth over the incident continued, with the former stating: “Do you not think it was Amorim’s moment? It was his first post match since taking over at Manchester United.”
Her co-host hit back: “It wasn’t all about Manchester United though. Shebahn, Ipswich were playing as well.”
Meanwhile, Aherne argued: “No I know but it’s not Kieran McKenna’s first day and first game in charge.”
Stelling adamantly replied: “So what, it’s Ed Sheeran’s club,” before the Early Sports Breakfast host added: “It’s Manchester United Jeff, come on, let’s not make out like it's not.”
In response, the former Soccer Saturday presenter said: “It’s at Portman Road, Ed Sheeran doesn’t care less whether it’s Manchester United, it’s his club, he is a shareholder, it’s at Portman Road. It was not for him.”
Aherne then asked: “They’re doing a post match interview about the football, why is Ed Sheeran there?”
Finally, Stelling ended the argument by exclaiming: “It is not all about Ruben Amorim, completely the opposite.
“And why he was there, I don’t know, that’s what I’m saying, he may well have been encouraged to be there.”
Sheeran was in the stands on Sunday for the Red Devils is visited to newly promoted Ipswich.
The singer-songwriter became a minority stakeholder in August following the club’s Premier League return.
He also sponsor’s the kit, with his ‘+–=÷× Tour’ logo appearing on the front of the shirt since 2021.
