Nigeria centre-back Leon Balogun has taken to social media to release a lengthy statement explaining his confrontation with Queens Park Rangers fans following their 1-0 defeat to his former team Wigan Athletic in the Championship on Saturday.
The Lactics won the game courtesy of Max Power’s sixth-minute penalty which was caused by Balogun who was just returning back to action after more than three months with injury.
Hoops fans were clearly not happy they lost to the Championship’s bottom club, which prevented them from steering further away from the relegation zone.
Balogun went to QPR fans after the game but was met with a hostile reception due to a perceived negative body language and had to be pulled away by teammate Albert Adomah.
“I am aware of a video going around of me with some QPR fans at the end of yesterday’s game and want to clarify what happened,” read the statement that was posted on Balogun’s Twitter account.
“When I walked over to the supporters after the match, I do so in order to show my appreciation. Did I expect it to be pretty? No. My intentions were genuine and without malice of any kind.
“I do acknowledge that my body language looks a certain way in the video going around, but the sole purpose was to show that I can’t hear what one particular person was trying to say and I wanted to speak with him – not argue back but speak.
“I didn’t go there to have a go at fans as some are saying on social media – after giving away a penalty I was hardly going to do that!!!
“Yes, I said “calm down” but followed by “talk to me” as I was approaching the stand. Not because I think you have no right to be angry (of course you do!) but in order to enter into a dialogue. I’ve been in situations like this before and always found that an opportunity to build a better bond between players and supporters, but also to show some accountability, especially during bad periods.
“Unfortunately, that dialogue didn’t and couldn’t happen, which is why my teammate Albert tried to pull me away in order to protect me. Me resisting him makes the whole situation look worse, I can see that. But at no point was I trying to be arrogant, mock any of the supporters let alone argue with them. Like I said before: I didn’t expect it to be pretty, but I did think that after the initial bit of abuse, we could talk openly.
“I have a lot of respect and appreciation for the support you’ve been constantly showing us this season, which is why I came over in the first place. And I know as a team we’ve let you down massively and you feel like we’ve not been able to match your efforts, yet again.
“I have been just as frustrated as you that I haven’t been able to contribute for the last few months. I have asked the club to invite some fans to the training ground so we can talk and I can answer their frustrations directly which is all I wanted to do after the game.
“I am determined to do all I can to play my part in the last seven games because this club should not be in this position and it is down to us – the players – to get across the line.”
— Leon Aderemi Balogun (@LeonBalogun) April 2, 2023
Balogun will hope to redeem his image with the fans when QPR host Preston North End at Loftus Road on Friday.
