The World Cup opening ceremony went ahead today with one of the UK’s finest exports Robbie Williams taking to the stage singing his heart out in front of thousands.
He performed some of his greatest hits at the Russian stadium, in a performance that was streamed worldwide to no doubt millions of football and Robbie fans alike.
While he might be a family man at home, some viewers spotted Robbie, 44, doing something alltogether less wholesome to the cameras. Viewers and people in the stadium managed caught Robbie sticking his middle finger up at the camera during a performance of Rock DJ.
Fans flocked to Twitter to comment on the scene as one wrote: “The World Cup opening ceremony is something else.”
Another added: “Robbie Williams just gave me the finger…”
A third added: “Who is the male singer, he gave the finger on world TV very vulgar.”
A fourth shared: “Robbie Williams showed the middle finger while performing in the opening ceremony of FIFA World Cup 2018. Or did I hallucinate? Any idea folks?”
The moment was seen on FOX US coverage of the opening ceremony and appears to have come at the end of the short performance. It wasn’t shown on ITV coverage of the ceremony, which ended after an emotional rendition of Angels.
Express.co.uk has approached ITV for comment.
Robbie performed a bevy of his best-known hits. The former Take That star opened with a highly energetic version of Let Me Entertain You.
He went on to sing Feel and Angels as he was joined on the pitch with Russian opera singer, Aida Garifullina.
The performance was met with a mixed response as World Cup fans seemed confused by the organisers’ choice of the English popstar.
One wrote: “I am sorry did I miss something or was that whole opening ceremony Robbie Williams doing a few songs.”
Another shared: “I find Robbie Williams singing at the #WorldCup opening ceremony a bit random.”
A third disagreed, saying: “Robbie Williams is always winning, you will find him at things like these. Classic!”
A fourth shared: “Most of those songs Robbie Williams sang are 20 years old. I don’t mind him and his music but why was he picked for the opening ceremony?”
The opening ceremony was followed by the first match of the World Cup.
Russia are currently playing Saudi Arabia in the Luzhniki Stadium.
England will kick off their World Cup dreams on Monday when they take old Tunisia.
The World Cup Opening Ceremony can be viewed on the ITV Hub now.
