Manchester United covered child mascots in blue paint to turn them into walking ads
Reuters
Mascots were coloured in blue paint ahead of Tuesday's Premier League match between Manchester United and Bournemouth, to promote the release of a new X-Men film.
There were plenty of red faces around Old Trafford on Sunday night when a security blunder led to their match with Bournemouth being needlessly postponed but they were replaced by blue faces on Tuesday when the match with the Cherries was finally played.
Three of the mascots at the Premier League match had their faces and arms painted blue, sending social media into meltdown as the children were paraded before the match.
United players David De Gea and Wayne Rooney, among others, appeared humoured by their blue-faced compatriots as they led them onto the field prior to the match, which Manchester United won 3-1 to end the season in fifth place.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/732641182950555650
Modern day football. Manchester United's mascots promoting the new X-Men movie. ????⚽️ pic.twitter.com/OfYsdpD3Wo
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/732647771044519937
Man Utd come out at Old Trafford to the 20th Century Fox tune, with mascots dressed up as X-Men #ModernFootball pic.twitter.com/6JHnPEg2sZ
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/732639752164388865
Imagine writing that into a commercial contract: 'As part of the agreement we will paint two child mascots blue.'
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/732652631970197504
#ThatMomentWhen You lose a bet with your mate the night before you're mascot. pic.twitter.com/gu85s8ClaF
Rooney, Marcus Rashford and Ashley Young scored for United, before an injury-time own-goal from Chris Smalling provided consolation for the travelling Cherries - on their second trip to Manchester in little over 48 hours - and denied De Gea a share of the Golden Glove award.
Arsenal Petr Cech is now the sole winner of that award, given to the goalkeeper who kept the most clean sheets in the Premier League season.