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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder why she went public with this and her child will be embarrassed in years to come?

51 replies

SoniaFouler · 22/11/2021 18:49

In the last fifteen minutes I have heard this story on two separate radio stations, read three articles about it and saw it on a TV news bulletin.

A six-year-old boy was left in ‘floods of tears’ at his first ever rugby match after being vomited on by a drunk fan during Wales’ dramatic win over Australia on Saturday.

It should have been a day to remember for Joey Delaney, who was ‘so excited’ to see Wales play for the first time, but instead his outing was soured when the youngster and his parents were all thrown up on by an intoxicated fan.

Joey’s mother, Sophie, said there was vomit everywhere and the fan had been so drunk he ‘did not say a word afterwards’ and was entirely oblivious to what he had done.

The fan, who was ‘slumped over his seat’, had already spilled his drink on Joey earlier on in the match and Mrs Delaney and her husband had considered leaving early.

‘It was really hard because it was apparent he was asking to leave but I thought if we leave now, that’s going to be the feeling that we are left with,’ she told BBC Radio Wales.

‘I didn’t want to have that as our last memory. I was really fighting back tears because he was so upset, I was upset, my husband was upset, and a little bit angry, and I was holding them back to make sure he was alright.’

Somewhat surprisingly the drunk fan was not removed from the stadium, though other supporters rallied together after the incident – offering tissues and anti-bacterial gel to clean up the mess – while the family were eventually moved to new seats.

‘A man came over and knelt down on his [Joey’s] level and wanted to give him his Wales shirt… the reaction was really heart-warming,’ Mrs Delaney added.

Despite being thrown up on, Joey is still keen to attend more matches after watching Rhys Priestland’s last-gasp match-winning penalty.

‘Joey has been amazing, yesterday he didn’t even mention it – all he talked about all day was the positives,’ Mrs Delaney said. ‘So the experience as a whole was amazing and he’s excited to go again.’

The Welsh Rugby Union said they were ‘sorry to hear about the family’s experience’ and insist most fans at the stadium behave responsibly, though they will be in contact with Mrs Delaney after reviewing the steward’s report.

metro.co.uk/2021/11/22/six-year-old-boy-in-floods-of-tears-at-first-rugby-game-after-drunk-fan-vomits-on-him-15642977/

OP posts:

TableFlowerss · 22/11/2021 22:48

That’s absolutely fucking bogging. What an absolute arsehole the adult is for getting that pissed that they puke all over a child. Beyond disgusting! That poor child.

As PP have stated, not sure why the parents wouldn’t take him straight home to clean him, poor little thing having to sit in that.

Mind you, imagine having to put him in your car? Your car would be sticking if a strangers sick 🤢🤮🤮🤮

Exhausteddog · 22/11/2021 22:53

I thought it sounded pretty gross (and unacceptable from the fan) but not sure how it became a news story. DH brought it to my attention while I was having lunch (thanks )

Original poster

SoniaFouler · 22/11/2021 23:08

@FreedomFaith
How is this going to affect the kids future job prospects? Are you saying you'd actually not give someone a job because if this?

No I’m not saying that because…I didn’t say that. But it would very likely be an embarrassing ordeal for a child for his classmates to take the piss out of him, and when, beginning at working age, a teenager, for anyone to Google and this is the first thing that turns up. Would you have found it funny or even just not a big deal as a teen if this is what you were “famous” for at school, pictures of you included?

@Acrasia
i should think his name is common enough that in twelve years time when he is looking for work it won’t be particularly high on search engines.

If he doesn’t move, his name, combined with location, will likely bring up the story all the time and even 12 years later, unless another Joey D from the same spot makes a bigger headline for something else.

OP posts:

Bloodypunkrockers · 22/11/2021 23:22

@EmeraldShamrock

Make a fuss, get noticed, get free goodies/tickets/shite. She should be offered those things regardless, clubs have a responsibility to fans, venues etc need to ensure user safety, they shouldn't be allowed to let senseless drunk louts ruin it for anyone. She could probably take a civil case against them. I'd be enraged if it was my child. Luckily her DC got on with it, some would be traumatised as an adult I'd feel violated by a drunk puking his stomach contents on me.

Jesus Christ

A civil case???

FreedomFaith · 23/11/2021 07:32

@SoniaFouler

You did say this though:

Why mention potential employers if you don't think they will use it against him? Or if partners will make fun of him and think he is not good enough for them? Again, if someone is put off him because of this, that's their issue, not his. He doesn't sound affected by it anyway from what his mum said, he's not mentioning the vomiting incident. Only the fun stuff. Maybe he has and will continue to have a more positive outlook on life than you.

Offmyfence · 23/11/2021 08:41

As if an employer is going to judge him!

Voord · 23/11/2021 08:48

Sounds like a nasty experience, I can understand why they’d be upset but not sure why you’d immediately think - I’ll go to the press on this one. What major issue is it going to address? The common problem of vomiting on children at sports events? I think this needs filing in the “shit happens” category.

Original poster

SoniaFouler · 23/11/2021 09:04

[quote FreedomFaith]@SoniaFouler

You did say this though:

Are you saying you'd actually not give someone a job because if this?

I didn’t say that, or anything remotely close to that.

if someone is put off him because of this, that's their issue, not his.

He didn’t really get a choice with it being an issue of his, or anyone else’s, given his mother decided to flog his story

He doesn't sound affected by it anyway

Yet. Because he’s only six years old.

Maybe he has and will continue to have a more positive outlook on life than you

If not being bothered by being thrown up over and having my own mother blabber about it to the press and providing pictures of me which will co-exist with the story forever on the Internet, then yes, perhaps he will have a more positive outlook than me. Meanwhile, in the actual real world, teenagers have near on meltdowns if a parent tries to speak to them in public in front of their friends or someone uploads an unflattering photo of them online

OP posts:

LadyEloise1 · 23/11/2021 09:09

I hate all the drink consumed at matches.
Before. During. And After.
There should be no bars open during the match - ie at halftime.

notanothertakeaway · 23/11/2021 09:16

She'll be hoping for publicity, child being team mascot, season tickets etc

And I love the irony that you're so concerned about the child's privacy.......... and yet shared this story on a fairly well known site open to the general public throughout the world. Nice one

TomPinch · 23/11/2021 09:20

It could be worse. Imagine being the crying boy in the World Cup semi-final when Brazil went 4 down to Germany.

MichaelGovesBeard · 23/11/2021 09:27

The same type of parent who posts pictures of their child on social media with a nappy explosion leaking everywhere without a thought that the child might not think it as funny in years to come.

My dc are teens and would be utterly horrified if this type of thing was brought up from their childhood.

TableFlowerss · 23/11/2021 09:41

@LadyEloise1

I hate all the drink consumed at matches. Before. During. And After. There should be no bars open during the match - ie at halftime.

Problem with that, is it penalises those that don’t take it too far and want to meet up for a few drinks socially and not get blottered.

Also, it wouldn’t stop the dickheads that go overboard in the first place as they’d just rank themselves up at home beforehand. Nothing would stop them getting that wasted.

Original poster

SoniaFouler · 23/11/2021 09:46

@MichaelGovesBeard
My dc are teens and would be utterly horrified if this type of thing was brought up from their childhood.

Quite. I can only assume those brushing it off as not a big deal for him:

Have children that are not yet teenagers
Have children that are long past being teenagers
Have reached an age where they don’t remember what it’s like to be a teenager

OP posts:

CarrotSticks19 · 23/11/2021 09:55

I don't think 6 year old cries because someone vomited on him is particularly embarrassing, certainly not something that would affect their employment in later life.

And I'm not sure why you are so focused on the parents rather than the disgusting man who threw up on a 6 year old boy? The parents were probably angry, and felt this was the only way they could get back at the man. And why shouldn't they get some freebies? They were vomited on at a match! Fair cop gov to get some free tickets after that. Plus you are the one that is bringing attention to an article that probably most wouldnt bother reading.

FreedomFaith · 23/11/2021 10:13

@SoniaFouler

Are you saying you'd actually not give someone a job because if this?

I didn’t say that, or anything remotely close to that.

So why did you mention potential employers for this child? What do you think will happen? It can't be anything positive since you're worried about it.

if someone is put off him because of this, that's their issue, not his.

He didn’t really get a choice with it being an issue of his, or anyone else’s, given his mother decided to flog his story

Jensonfromtheblock · 23/11/2021 10:19

So if the mum says this, why doesn’t she just leave it at that?

MorganKitten · 23/11/2021 10:57

It’s to get freebies

HSHorror · 23/11/2021 11:23

I became emitophobic after walking past a bus shelter of drunk vomit as a child. Mqybe 5yo. The stench of the beer. If someone did that to me in a match i would probably be sick back.

Original poster

SoniaFouler · 23/11/2021 11:56

[quote FreedomFaith]@SoniaFouler

Are you saying you'd actually not give someone a job because if this?

I didn’t say that, or anything remotely close to that.

So why did you mention potential employers for this child? What do you think will happen? It can't be anything positive since you're worried about it.

if someone is put off him because of this, that's their issue, not his.

He didn’t really get a choice with it being an issue of his, or anyone else’s, given his mother decided to flog his story

And yet it still remains the same. If a potential partner decides to Google him, sees that story, and decides he's not the guy for them based on something that happened at 6, outside of his control, they are a bit weird and he's better off without them.[/quote]
If potential employers Google his name in future they might come across this story. That is in no way shape or form the same as you asking me whether I, personally would refuse to hire him because of it. I’m struggling to understand why you’re finding that difficult to grasp?

OP posts:

CarrotSticks19 · 23/11/2021 12:36

But why is that relevant op?

In 12 years time his employer may come across a story about him being vomited on at 6. But that's not going to have any affect on anything, no employer is going to even register it. So what if his employer sees it?

AngeloMysterioso · 23/11/2021 12:48

I mean, not long ago a celeb mum posted a photo of her baby’s actual shit on Instagram as part of an #ad for water wipes. That’s embarrassing. This is pretty tame by comparison.

LuaDipa · 23/11/2021 13:05

[quote SoniaFouler]@EmeraldShamrock
I doubt he'll be embarrassed forever

Well I beg to differ, this story will, throughout his life (unless he does something way more important and even that will not erase this) be the first thing that comes up when any potential employer, partner or anyone searches his name online.[/quote]
You seriously think that an innocent child that was vomited on by a drunk stranger and had a day out with his family ruined might have this held against him in the future? I very much doubt it.

If you were talking about the idiot that couldn’t hold his drink and threw up on a small child you might have a point.

FreedomFaith · 23/11/2021 13:07

@SoniaFouler

If potential employers Google his name in future they might come across this story. That is in no way shape or form the same as you asking me whether I, personally would refuse to hire him because of it. I’m struggling to understand why you’re finding that difficult to grasp?

But why mention it? Why do you think his future employers will be bothered? Why are you struggling to grasp that? There must be some reason you think an employer would be bothered, I'm taking a guess that you think they wouldn't hire him. I'm asking why you think that.

I don't know how I can make this any clearer..

EerieSilence · 23/11/2021 13:13

I'm sorry but are we really criticising the mother or saying that her son will suffer because of publicity?
Somehow I can't see people talking about how awful the behaviour of that drunk skank was and of the club that didn't remove the fan from the stadium. The boy deserves any freebies they will throw at him, including an apology.

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