TV star goes BALLISTIC over photo of Manchester United star Marcus Rashford holding AFL ball

Furious Australian TV star Lucy Zelic has called out the AFL for posting a ‘f***ing embarrassing’ image on social media of Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford posing with a Sherrin footy.

Taking to Twitter, the 35-year-old was stunned to see the Red Devils striker promoting a rival code while based in Melbourne on his team’s pre-season tour.

‘Can someone tell me what the point of this is?’ Zelic fumed.

‘Is Marcus suddenly going to switch codes and sign for an AFL side? Go and pat a koala, meet with proud members of our Indigenous communities and spend time with grassroots FOOTBALL clubs. 

‘This is just f**king embarrassing.’

The former SBS football presenter also stated on Twitter that the AFL in her eyes have ‘done nothing but s**t on football time and time again’

A fired-up Zelic went onto recall then AFL boss Andrew Demetriou not agreeing to share Etihad Stadium for an international football tournament in 2009

‘This is a blatant PR exercise that Marcus was told to do, nothing more. Cross-code promotions are a waste of time. They should be appealing to FOOTBALL fans,’ she added.

‘As a code, the AFL and its representatives have done nothing but s**t on football time and time again.

‘Who could forget in 09’ when we bid for the WC (World Cup) and (former AFL CEO Andrew) Demetriou refused to give up Etihad for an INTERNATIONAL tournament. Agreeing to be part of this stupidity is just insulting.   

Zelic’s tweet resonated with many football fans, who also couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

‘This wouldn’t be such a big problem if AFL didn’t shit on football every other day of the year,’ one wrote, with a second supporter stating, ‘They (the AFL) will stifle the local game as much as possible – but the moment one of the stars from overseas comes here, they can’t get a photo of them holding Sherrin fast enough.’

He then added ‘it’s all because of how irrelevant they are beyond these shores’.

In another move that infuriated fans of the world game, Rashford posed with numerous members of Melbourne’s sporting clubs at AAMI Park – but not alongside any A-League or W-League players.

One-time Football Australia communications boss Bonita Mersiades described the group photo as ‘cringeworthy’ on Twitter.

Manchester United star Marcus Rashford (pictured middle) also posed with numerous members of Melbourne’s sporting clubs – but not alongside any A-League or W-League players – at AAMI Park this week

Manchester United play A-League side Melbourne Victory at the MCG on Friday before lining up against fellow EPL club Crystal Palace at the same venue on July 19 as their pre-season tour kicks into gear.

They finish with another friendly versus Aston Villa at Perth’s Optus Stadium on July 23. 

The future of Cristiano Ronaldo remains up in the air, with new Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag refusing to field questions about the Portugese superstar, who didn’t travel to Australia.

‘We are planning for Cristiano to be with us for the season and that’s it. I’m looking forward to working with him. Cristiano is not for sale,’ he said firmly as speculation continues the veteran wants to move on.

The Dutch manager also expects Victory to provide a ‘good test’ at the iconic sporting venue in Melbourne on Friday night.