In the FA Cup match between Everton and Peterborough United, a unique event in the tournament’s 154-year history could have happened.
The Toffees defenders could play against each other Ashley Young and his son is midfielder Tyler Youngplaying for the League One team. Young Sr. came on in the 73rd minute when the score was 1:0 in favor of the Liverpool team, but his son spent the entire match on the bench. Guest head coach Darren Ferguson commented on the decision not to release the young footballer:
The last change was difficult because I wanted to release Tyler. Even though I wanted him to play with his father, I had to do what was right for my team.
It was very difficult, but I have to do what’s best for the team. If it was 2-0 I would have released him, but with the score at 1-0 I couldn’t. If I had brought on a central midfielder when it was 1-0 I would have had three strikers sitting on the bench wondering what was going on.
The Everton man wrote on social media on Friday that he was “devastated” and Ferguson’s decision sparked outrage from fans, with some calling for the manager to be sacked. However, Peterborough chairman Darragh McAnthony On his website, “X” posted a post defending the manager:
This nonsense must stop. My manager was 100% correct in his actions. This was not some sort of friendly or exhibition match. Tyler is doing a great job playing for the U-21 team and progressing, he has a bright future, but putting him on the field at that time, given the circumstances of the match, when we were behind in the score with a few minutes remaining, was not good for the team. Posting stupid tweets calling for his firing is reckless and, frankly, stupid. In time, even Ashley would come to appreciate this, unlike his current attitude towards him.
