Aston Villa’s Moussa Diaby saved the day for a tearful young fan yesterday night after the boy’s banner asking for the attacker’s shirt was confiscated.
Before Villa played AZ Alkmaar last night in the Europa Conference League, a young fan hung a beautifully hand-crafted sign near to the touchline asking for the French footballer’s shirt.
However, due to a new rule in Dutch football where stadiums are banning fans from bringing in signs asking players for shirts, a steward walks over to the boy and takes the banner away.
Left in tears, he is consoled by another steward as the sign is then thrown in the bin.
But, in a heartwarming gesture the Birmingham club made sure the fan was granted his wish as Diaby gave him a hug at the full-time whistle and his shirt.
The young fan’s brilliant home-made banner was put near to the touchline asking for his shirt
However, due to a new rule in Dutch football, the Steward takes the banner and throws it away
The boy can be seen with a beaming smile on his face as he poses for a picture alongside the Villa winger with his shirt.
Many football fans complained on social media that it was completely ‘unnecessary’ for the steward to throw the sign in the bin.
One person wrote on X: ‘All the hours this kid have spent making it, looking forward and having his hopes up, brought the sign and then some man throw it in the bin.’
Another added: ‘That’s unnecessary from the stewards to throw it in the bin.’
However, after the Villa star made it up to the kid, fans were delighted with one saying: ‘Love this!’ Another also added: ‘Brilliant! Well done Villa.’
To add to Villa fans’ joy, their side enjoyed a remarkable result last night against the Dutch team as they won 4-1 to go second in their group.
However, the young fan’s night was not all bad as he finally got to meet Moussa Diaby
The Aston Villa attacker made sure the fan’s night wasn’t ruined after their excellent 4-1 win
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