Qudus SalihuSunderland’s mid-season resurgence hit a demoralizing roadblock at the Gtech Community Stadium on Wednesday night, as a 3-0 defeat to Brentford sparked a wave of fury among the traveling support. While the Black Cats have largely exceeded expectations this season, the nature of the loss—and one moment of perceived arrogance in particular—has seen fans turn on summer signing Enzo Le Fée.
The Frenchman, who arrived with high expectations to anchor the midfield, has found himself at the center of a social media storm following a disastrous second-half sequence. With Sunderland trailing 1-0 on the hour mark, the visitors were handed a lifeline when Brian Brobbey was hauled down in the box. Le Fée stepped up to take the penalty but opted for a “disrespectful” Panenka attempt that backfired spectacularly. Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher didn’t flinch, standing his ground to comfortably catch the ball.
The fallout was instantaneous. Within five minutes of the miss, Igor Thiago doubled Brentford’s lead, effectively killing the contest. Sunderland fans have been “calling out” Le Fée not just for the miss, but for the decision to attempt a high-risk trick shot during a crucial moment of the game. On social media, the sentiment was vitriolic, with many supporters labeling the effort “arrogant” and “unprofessional” given the club’s battle to maintain their top-half standing.
”You’re 1-0 down away from home in a scrap for points, and you try a Panenka? It’s an absolute disgrace,” one prominent fan account posted, garnering thousands of likes. Others have questioned Le Fée’s commitment to the “dirty work” required in the Premier League, contrasting his flair-heavy approach with the grit shown by teammates like Granit Xhaka.
Manager Régis Le Bris attempted to protect his player after the match, stating that “when you take risks, you make mistakes,” but the apology has done little to soothe the Wearside faithful. For a fanbase that prides itself on hard work and “blood and thunder” football, Le Fée’s moment of showmanship has created a significant rift. As the squad prepares for their next fixture, the pressure is now firmly on the midfielder to prove that he values points over style
Rabiu Aminu
Mustapha Sheidu
