Tyson Fury stirred up some late-afternoon TV drama by swearing live on ITV as Soccer Aid kicked off, sparking an immediate apology from presenter Alex Scott.
The incident occurred during the live feed when cameras panned into the England changing room to reveal the starting lineup. Amid the buzz and excitement, Fury, standing alongside Harry Redknapp near the iconic three lions crest, was heard exclaiming: “We are f***ing Spartans.”
Host Alex Scott swiftly addressed the moment, saying, “We do apologise for the swearing. It’s Tyson—we don’t know what’s going to happen,” before the broadcast moved back to the studio for more team analysis.
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The gaffe attracted plenty of amused reactions on social media. One viewer tweeted, “Tyson Fury swearing before half past 6 on a Sunday evening—absolute gold #SoccerAid,” while another commented, “Tyson Fury just casually dropping the F bomb just before 6:30 #SoccerAid.”
Fans even jokingly speculated about Fury’s future on the show: “RIP Tyson Fury’s Soccer Aid career. Dropped the F Bomb at 18:24pm June 2025 #SoccerAid2025,” and noted the younger audience’s delight: “All the kids having a little giggle after Tyson Fury pre-game speech #SoccerAid.”
Ahead of the match, Fury expressed his excitement about leading the England team: “The prospect of leading my England team to victory this June fills me with just as much excitement as any heavyweight fight. Being a huge Manchester United fan makes it extra special that the game is at Old Trafford, and I get to manage one of my heroes, Wayne Rooney.”
Rooney shared his enthusiasm, adding, “I’m a big boxing fan, so to do it alongside Tyson Fury is fantastic. We both take this seriously. It’s great to lace up again and see old friends.”
The England squad includes notable stars such as Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, and Louis Tomlinson from One Direction. Entrepreneur Steven Bartlett and ex-Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart will also feature, alongside celebrities like Jermain Defoe, Steph Houghton, Toni Duggan, Aaron Lennon, Jill Scott, Sir Mo Farah, Paddy McGuinness, Dame Denise Lewis, Bear Grylls, Tom Grennan, Alex Brooker, and Angry Ginge.
Originally, Sam Thompson was set to play but was sidelined due to a calf injury. Instead, he will support from the touchline and coaching side. Thompson shared, “I’m still very sore with the torn calf, but being here at Soccer Aid HQ is amazing. I can’t join the chaos on the pitch, but I’m proud to be part of the management team with Vicky McClure, Tyson Fury stepping into new shoes, and Harry Redknapp. I came with high hopes but had to accept I can’t run properly. They kindly invited me to join the management side, so I’m on the dark side with Tyson Fury!”
Soccer Aid’s live charity match can be watched on ITVX.