Harry Maguire Has Been 'Disrespected' And Criticism Has Fallen Into The 'Abuse Category'

​​Harry Maguire has been 'disrespected' and the criticism has fallen into the 'abuse category', according to former Premier League defender Martin Keown.

Maguire has come under intense scrutiny for his below-par performances for Manchester United this season. 

He faced regular criticism, with former Man United captain Roy Keane being one of his most vocal critics. 

Image: Alamy

But Keown believes the England international has been unfairly treated by fans and pundits.  

In his column for the Daily Mail, he wrote: "The criticism of Harry Maguire, and the way his career has been picked apart by people who think they know better, is disrespectful.

"This isn’t the first time I’ve come to Maguire’s defence. I did it during the season, too. Fans and pundits can provide constructive criticism but at times, it’s felt like comments made about Maguire have fallen more into the abuse category and that’s wrong."

The ex-Arsenal defender added: "This is a good player who has taken on the pressure of captaining Manchester United and a central defender who has earned the trust of Gareth Southgate because he has been dependable."

Image: Alamy

Maguire was booed by fans during England's friendly win over Ivory Coast earlier this year. 

And he received a sickening bomb threat at his family home. 

The 29-year-old opened up on the horror of the bomb threat and addressed his critics. 

"Obviously I'm in a position where I’m going to be criticised, Manchester United paid a large sum of money for me, it is one of the most loved clubs in the world and also one of the most hated in the world as well," said Maguire, who joined the Old Trafford club in a £80 million transfer move from Leicester City in 2019.​

"We know we are under the most scrutiny. I totally accept criticism when we concede goals or make mistakes, I'm big enough to accept people getting on my back and saying I can improve.

"There is a line where we are human beings, I do have a family. People ask if it affects me. My mentality is that it doesn't affect me too much but when it comes to bomb threats, it is more about family.

"My fiancée Fern, I'm just happy my kids are at an age where they don't read things and see things on the news. If my kids were an older age, they could see things and go to school and people are speaking about it, that is when it affects you a little bit more."

Topics: Harry Maguire, Manchester United, England, Football

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Darren Till. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

@NasJabbar