A Manchester United fan says he lost his job the first day after breaking the coronavirus restrictions to take a selfie – with Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez.
Ground worker Craig Willis, 37, said he was fired after asking for a photo of the star – a few hours before the start.
He had been hired by an agency to deal with the flooring of a luxury apartment complex, but did not follow the strict rules of the coronavirus.
Dad out of five Craig said he saw the Algerian wing, 29, as he was being shown around and approached him for a snap.
He says Mahrez seemed happy to pose with him, even punching him later.
But Craig said he was called by his supervisor on his way home on Monday and told him not to return the next day.
He had signed a form that made it clear that arriving less than two meters from anyone on the scene near Macclesfield would cause an immediate layoff.
(Image: Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
He said, “Mahrez looked pretty nice. I asked and said, ‘Yes, no problem.’
“I took the picture, I got punched, then I got the call on the way home.
“I took the selfie for my best friend – he’s a Manchester City fan. I support Manchester United. But it doesn’t happen every day to see someone like that.”
Craig said he returned to the site the following day to withdraw his instruments – when his dismissal was confirmed.
He added: “Thinking about it, [two metres] that’s a rule, isn’t it? If I signed something, then fair enough. You can’t tell lies. I did not think about it.
“I broke the rules. But it wasn’t explained correctly. That’s the only thing I can say about it.
(Image: Rich Linley – CameraSport via Getty Images)
“And I asked him. I was working and he passed. I said, ‘Are you okay for a picture?’. Then he came over to me.”
Craig was hired to work for Pavetec.
A company spokesman declined to comment.
The site was developed by the PJ Livesey group.
A spokesman said: “The security of all our sites is of paramount importance at all times and the rules are very clear.”
There is no suggestion that Mahrez complained or was involved in the decision.
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