Simon Jordan says 'fans have the right' to boo Harry Maguire for poor performances

That's according to talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan who insists football supporters 'have the right' to boo players for poor performances.

The England and Manchester United centre-back was jeered by Three Lions fans prior to a ball being kicked in the Three Lions' 3-0 win over Ivory Coast.

There was a smattering of boos when his name was read out over the tannoy before the international friendly at Wembley, while he was even jeered after his first few touches of the ball.

Gareth Southgate labelled the reaction an 'absolute joke', while his teammates also posted about their dismay.

Jordan Henderson hailed Maguire as a 'colossus for England' and said he 'can't get my head around what happened', while Declan Rice also hit back at the boos.

Whilst the reaction towards Maguire may seem unfair, the 29-year-old has endured a poor season for the Red Devils.

The club captain has come under fire for his performance this term, with his side be knocked out of every competition and face an uncertain future in regards to their Champions League status for next season.

The Red Devils currently sit sixth in the Premier League, two places and four points behind Arsenal who occupy fourth place, and have a game in hand.

Reacting to the scenes on talkSPORT, former Crystal Palace chairman Jordan admitted he shouldn't have been jeered, especially before the game had even kicked off - but added that it doesn't mean fans should be stopped from having their say.

"Being called out for his performances is not the same as being abused," said the outspoken White and Jordan host.

"If you can take praise you should be able to take criticism as well, and there's too much of that in football where it's a one way transaction, everyone wants to be built up and no one to take the consequences of poor performances.

"I'm not sure that booing a player is entirely constructive, but I'm not sure Gareth Southgate reacting to it is entirely constructive.

"If you pick teams on merit, and if you're building a side on merit, that's one thing. If you're picking players to supplement their confidence, then there's an argument to suggest you should be picking Marcus Rashford because Maguire's form isn't much better than Rashford's - so why is Maguire being included in the framework?

"I agree, absolutely agree, I don't see the point of it, I don't see the point of booing a player who has been picked for his country, I don't know why you would want to do it.

"But the flip side of it is that we've got players that lack character, across the pantheon of football, we have players that can't deal with adversity because the only thing they can hear is praise.

"So when you hear criticism all of a sudden it's an outrage, people are abusing people, the papers are weighing in on Harry Maguire, they were making the same observations last year.

"But nobody has called him ugly or stupid, they aren't abusing him, they're saying he's not good enough.

"If people are [abusing him] I don't like it and I don't think it's constructive, but I also don't want to get into the territory where the only thing you can do is cheer.

"If you don't like something, the alternative to it whether you like it or not, is fans booing. Otherwise what is the alternative to booing [when fans aren't happy with what they're seeing] - silence?

"Why are they wrong? They can do what they want. It's their opinion and they have a right to have it. It doesn't make them right, but it's a fan's point of view and it's their right and if that's what they want to do then allow them to do it.

"Instead, Gareth Southgate wants to tell people how he thinks they should support England.

"Fans boo and praise in equal measure and Harry Maguire is playing poorly. He doesn't merit being in the England side. On his form? God no!

"Boo hoo - they're playing for Manchester United, the biggest club in the country and their form isn't at the level. They should be called out for it!

"Harry Maguire has been very much part of an England side that when it gets tested, loses games, plays against substandard opposition, when he gets played against elite opposition in the Premier League, he gets ripped a new one."