Dejan Lovren has become the latest, most famous victim of a classic prank.
A young fan West Ham enlisted as a mascot comically snubbed Lovren on Saturday in the tunnel at the Boleyn Ground. The West Ham mascot held his hand out for Lovren before pulling it away before the Croatian could shake it. British broadcaster BT Sport caught the incident on video and shared it on Twitter, much to the delight of the viewing public.
.@LFC defender @DejanLovrenLFC6 left hanging by @whufc_official mascot! ✋ https://t.co/pUe0PJ8Adn
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 2, 2016
The pregame snub forecast a difficult day for Lovren. West Ham bullied him and Liverpool en route to a 2-0 win in the Premier League.
Lovren’s woes serve as a reminder that focus and anticipation are paramount in England’s top flight — even before the game kicks off.
Thumbnail photo via LiverpoolFC.com