Rio Ferdinand's YouTube host throws punches and headbutt to spark football brawl

31 January 2024 , 13:11

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Stephen Howson was left with a black eye after a Sunday League brawl (Image: YouTube)

YouTuber Stephen Howson, who co-hosts the Vibe with Five podcast alongside Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, was left with a black eye after he was involved in a brawl at a Sunday League game.

Howson is also part of the Stretford Paddock YouTube channel and manages their football team, who played a match away in Liverpool last week. And Howson was involved in a violent brawl after complaining to the referee.

Howson was approached by one of the opposition players who he alleges headbutted him first, prompting the YouTuber to punch him twice and then headbutt another player who ran over.

The first player then appeared to throw a punch of his own before members of both teams rushed over to calm things down.

Howson has posted footage of the incident on his Patreon page, but it has also been widely shared on social media. The clash has left him with a black eye, which was addressed on the most recent episode of the Vibe with Five podcast as Ferdinand joked he had "slapped him up".

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Howson has since given his side of the story, claiming that some of the opposition players had been sharing "fantasy versions of what happened" on social media and insisting he was simply trying to "protect myself and my players".

He explained: "One of the opposition players tells me to get off the pitch and then headbutts me which is hilarious because they've all been in my social media today with just fantasy versions of what happened.

Howson threw two punches and a headbutt at an opposition player (Twitter)

"I know that everything we do is recorded so I've got no qualms telling you what happened because I know what happened, I've rewatched what happened and I've actually shared the full 'Here's What Happened' on Patreon.

"I will always protect myself and my players despite what little Scouse bells on social media want to say. I caught one... but we won the game 2-0. Up the f***ing Reds."

The footage was widely shared on social media before Howson explained his side of the story (Twitter)

He also revealed what led up to the incident, admitting he was unhappy with the referee for not punishing the opposition for making several "two-footed challenges". Howson added: "Yesterday there was probably four or five two-footed challenges in the first 20 minutes of our game.

"I stepped on to the pitch about a foot to shout at the referee, which again is not ideal, is it? But protecting my players is my number one thought in that sort of circumstance."

Matthew Cooper