Soccer Aid star faces criticism for a heated moment in the historic game
A well-known Soccer Aid star got some online criticism for their behaviour during the exciting match at London Stadium.
On Sunday evening, West Ham United’s London Stadium was the place for the 2026 Soccer Aid event, celebrating 20 years of this special charity match.
As usual, famous celebrities and former football stars came together to raise money for UNICEF, with teams representing England and the Rest of the World.
On Team England, football legends like Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, and Jill Scott played alongside fan favourites Angry Ginge and actors Tom Hiddleston and Owen Cooper, who made history as the youngest player ever in Soccer Aid.
On the other side, stars like Jordi Alba, Leonardo Bonucci, and Michael Essien led a team including singer Dermot Kennedy, actor Chris O’Dowd, and Sidemen members Ethan ‘Behzinga’ Payne and Tobi Brown.
In a close game, England won 3-2, thanks to goals from F1 actor Damson Idris and a double from Defoe, who became Soccer Aid’s top goalscorer.
You can read more about what happened to one of Soccer Aid’s co-founders who had to stop playing.
While most of the England team played well, one player caught attention for her behaviour during her short time on the pitch.
Podcaster and former I’m A Celeb contestant GK Barry, whose real name is Grace Keeling, joined the game late in the first half after helping present the event.
She was clearly loved by the London crowd and seemed to really enjoy the moment.
In fact, she got so into chatting with fans that she missed a pass from teammate Tom Grennan because she turned her back on the game.
Many found the moment funny and light-hearted, especially since England went on to win. But some on social media didn’t like it.
One Soccer Aid fan said, “I don’t like people like GK Barry. She has no football skills and makes it all about herself, ruining the game for others.”
Another joked, “GK Barry is probably the second worst Soccer Aid player ever,” only behind Tommy Fury’s 2023 performance.
Despite the criticism, most fans had a great time watching the fun, lively match, knowing it was all for a great cause.
And it really was! After the game, co-founder Robbie Williams shared that this year’s event raised a record-breaking £16.5 million for UNICEF, bringing the total raised over 20 years to around £137 million.