Iain Stirling slammed for ‘classless’ comments on Soccer Aid

Iain Stirling has been criticised for his comments during Soccer Aid 2024 (Picture: ©UNICEF/Soccer Aid Productions/Stella Pictures) Iain Stirling has caught heat for a remark viewers deemed insensitive while he commentated on Soccer Aid 2024. Soccer Aid is an annual star-studded football match raising money for UNICEF, with the likes of Jill Scott, Bobby Brazier, Sam Thompson, Danny Dyer, and Tom Hiddleston playing for England this year. They face off against World XI, comprising Usain Bolt, Tommy Fury, Roman Kemp, Lee Mack, and Tony Bellew, to name a few, at Stamford Bridge. Former children’s TV presenter Iain, 36, joined Sam Matterface on co-comms duty for the charity sporting event once again this year. Mid-way through the game, however, while imploring viewers at home to pick up their phones and donate to charity, he made what social media users branded a ‘classless’ quip. ‘£40, what’s that? A takeaway for the whole family?’, Iain asked. The Love Island narrator joins Sam Matterface for commentary duties (Picture: ©UNICEF/Soccer Aid Productions/Stella Pictures) Alex Scott and Dermot O’Leary host the annual football match (Picture: ©UNICEF/Soccer Aid Productions/Stella Pictures) ‘Why not cook and give us £40 instead?’, added the Love Island narrator. The comment didn’t go unnoticed by viewers, with X user MaxPollard92 asking: ‘Does Iain Stirling know how utterly classless this sounds?’ ‘Ian Stirling saying “what’s 40 quid?” Ian mate there’s a cost of living crisis and people in the uk struggling to live and have to go to food banks to survive. 40 quid may be nothing to you, but it’s a lot for people who don’t have much’, blasted ThatJade94. Agreeing, BeckyGD95 replied: ‘That’s my weekly food shop for just me, I definitely don’t have £40 to give away’. Expressing her disbelief, she added that she hopes Iain merely ‘didn’t think before he spoke and realised after’. Viewer agallagher92_ wrote: ‘Iain Stirling has just said “what’s £40?” Acting like it’s spare cash and people aren’t living in a financial crisis’. Iain Stirling: “what’s £40 quid anyway”.A lot, actually. #socceraid— Mike Pattinson (@MikePattinson) June 9, 2024 Iain Stirling has just said “what’s £40?” Acting like it’s spare cash ðŸ˜- and people aren’t living in a financial crisis #socceraid— Adam (@agallagher92_) June 9, 2024 “£40, What’s that? A takeaway for the whole family. Why not cook and give us £40 instead?” Does Iain Stirling know how utterly classless this sounds? 😂 #SoccerAid— Max Pollard (@MaxPollard92) June 9, 2024 Ian Stirling saying “what’s 40 quid?” Ian mate there’s a cost of living crisis and people in the uk struggling to live and have to go to food banks to survive. 40 quid may be nothing to you, but it’s a lot for people who don’t have much— Jade (@ThatJade94) June 9, 2024 Ian Stirling: “£40. What’s that? A takeaway for the family” WOW! 😮 #socceraid— Ashley Spink (@AshleySpink) June 9, 2024 I like Ian Stirling but “£40, what is that? A takeaway for the family?” So out of touch… that’s a weekly shop for some people! #socceraid— Rebecca Tatters (@BeckieMackie92) June 9, 2024 In a follow-up post, he said: ‘Shocked me when he was like that’s just a takeaway for the family trying to act like people should give up something they possibly spent all week trying to look forward to’. Billyspurs also pointed out that many viewers of Soccer Aid will be ‘on the poverty line’, while BeckieMackie92 labelled him ‘out of touch’. Others argued Iain is ‘detached from reality’ and asked to know what Iain has donated personally. Edinburgh-born comedian Iain is no stranger to Soccer Aid, having taken part before in various ways. Playing for the World XI team, Iain took to the pitch when the match took place at Old Trafford in 2020. Last year, however, he admitted to the MEN: ‘I think after playing once, commentary is where my skill set lies.’ Ian has taken part in Soccer Aid numerous times (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock) Iain has said he loves ‘being part of the whole Soccer Aid atmosphere’ and ‘knowing you’re part of something that’s doing such great work for such a great cause.’ In 2022 when the event raised over £15million, he expressed his pride, saying it ‘felt like a really special moment’ upon learning of the total. Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.