Dominik Szoboszlai was repeatedly booed during Hungary's 0-0 Nations League draw with Northern Ireland in Belfast, with local media labelling the Liverpool midfielder "big bad Dom."
Hostile reception at Windsor Park
Szoboszlai, who has scored three goals in seven games for Liverpool this season, joined up with Hungary after a 1-0 defeat to Ukraine last week. The 25-year-old started a brawl in that Group B2 match following Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Nazarenko's red card.
Monday's trip to Belfast ended goalless, but home supporters targeted the Hungarian players with boos, particularly Szoboszlai and club team-mate Milos Kerkez. A report in The Irish News suggested the jeering stemmed from their Liverpool connections, noting it is customary at Windsor Park to boo any opposing Reds players.
"Big bad Dom" and the match incidents
The report caricatured Szoboszlai negatively after a match in which Northern Ireland picked up four yellow cards, including one for Ethan Galbraith for a charging tackle on the Liverpool man. It read: "Some traditions are worth preserving, even I'll admit. One of those is the relentless booing of Liverpool players, even before they do anything wrong.
"Left-back Milos Kerkez got some early 'treatment' as Paddy Kelly put in an excellent first half on the NI right. Such was the hosts' superiority that when skipper Szoboszlai tried to get his Hungary team going, he had to drop back to the edge of his own box to receive the ball."
"He was more successful at riling the home support, with a series of complaints to the referee, so when the Anfield star went to take a corner at this Kop end the boos were deafening."
"Shea Charles took ball and man – that man being Szoboszlai – in a challenge midway through the second half. Szoboszlai leapt to his feet and waved his arms, almost 'geeing' up the gleeful home support."
Covering the second half, the report added: "From the other flank 'big bad Dom' floated a cross-shot just high and wide of the angle of post and crossbar."
O'Neill criticises Hungary behaviour
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill was unhappy with the conduct of several Hungary players. He said: "I was disappointed with some of the Hungarian players' behaviour on the pitch, holding their faces and screaming.
"Really, there was no need for that. It was an honest, competitive game. We didn't need the nature of the simulation or the antics. We want that away and out of the game. That's why the referee has to speed the game up."
Hungary face Georgia next, then Ukraine again, and sit fourth in the group on one point. Northern Ireland, second with four points after a 1-0 win over Georgia in Tbilisi, meet Ukraine in Slovakia on Friday before facing Georgia again.
