I’m like every other football fan… I still celebrate’: partially sighted Liverpool fan Mike Kearney opens up about his Anfield experience after video of him celebrating strike against Napoli went viral
- Mike Kearney says that he is ‘like every other football fan’ after video went viral
- A touching video captured the moment a blind fan celebrated Mo Salah’s opener
- The fan can be seen celebrating as his cousin talks in his ear to explain the goal
- The uplifting video clearly touched many as it did the rounds on social media
- One user wrote: ‘That’s special. I’m an Everton fan and I’m in tears over that’
- Salah’s goal was the only one of the game as Liverpool beat Napoli to qualify
The visually-impaired Liverpool supporter whose celebration of Mohamed Salah’s goal against Napoli went viral has spoken out, saying that he is ‘like every other football fan’.
In the video, Liverpool supporters can be seen jumping up and down in pandemonium as they celebrate taking the lead before it focuses in on Mike Kearney.
Kearney is seen smiling as his cousin embraces him and talks into his ear to explain Salah’s opening goal in the Champions League clash on Tuesday evening.
This is the heartwarming moment a blind Liverpool fan (in the grey) was captured celebrating
His cousin was seen talking into his ear to describe Mo Salah’s opening goal against Napoli
Fans were moved by the uplifting video of Mike Kearney and it did the rounds on social media
‘I’m like every other football fan – it doesn’t matter if I can’t see clearly, I still celebrate,’ Kearney told BBC Sport. ‘It was just relief that we scored.
‘I wish I could see more but that doesn’t mean I can’t form an opinion of my own,’ he said.
‘It’s difficult for people that can see to understand, but I think of it as normal to me and I have been like that all my life. It’s just the way I watch the game.’
‘It was very blurry,’ he added. ‘Up close at the Kop End I am OK, but further away the ball gets harder to see. It wasn’t hard to work out what happened with noise.’
Fans were moved by the uplifting video and it quickly became a hit on social media with many using it as an example of how football can bring people closer together.
A post accompanying the video said: ‘This blind fan celebrating Salah’s goal after his friend tells him about the play is amazing! The beautiful game.’
Fans rushed to comment with one supporter saying: ‘That’s special. I’m a Blue (Everton fan) and I’m in tears over that.’
Another fan said: ‘This is one of the best things I’ve seen in a minute. Bless.’
The Liverpool forward showed great feet to dance into the area before slotting into the net
Salah’s strike proved to be the winner and was enough for Liverpool to qualify for next round
Kearney was clearly moved by the comments and responded later on Twitter, writing: ‘Nice to read all the comments about the video. It’s my cousin telling me it was mo who scored. I can see a little bit but not great. Didn’t know the camera got us.’
Salah’s crucial strike proved to be the winner in the end and was enough to see Liverpool advance through to the next round of the Champions League.
A similar video emerged over the World Cup and touched the hearts of many.
It showed a deaf-blind Brazil football fan enjoying their Group game against Costa Rica through the help of an interpreter who showed him what was happening on a miniature model of the pitch.