'It was stupid, I'm sorry': Football-mad teen apologises after trolling Ryan Sessegnon's girlfriend at PFA Awards
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The football fan who trolled Ryan Sessegnon's girlfriend has apologised after directing vile abuse at the 17-year-old.
Sessegnon's young partner Lacie Southion as mocked on social media after they appeared together at the PFA awards on Sunday.
A picture of them attending the awards was mercilessly ridiculed on social media.
The England under 21 winger was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year gong alongside Harry Kane, Ederson, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling and winner Leroy Sane.
Among the tweets, the Fulham star's partner branded a "rescued beach whale" by football-mad Dan Paxton, also 17.
Paxton has now issued an apology for the awful tweet - and insists he only joined in after seeing others mock Lacie.
"I was just messing around, it was a bit silly and I deleted it. It was nothing malicious and I'm sorry," he told the Mail.
(Image: PA)
"It really was a stupid thing to do. I am sorry to anyone who was offended.
"I'll be careful about what I tweet in future. I deleted it with one click of a button and it's gone."
However this morning the Birmingham City-supporting teen was getting some abuse of his own - especially from Fulham fans.
Despite Sessegnon being the first ever player outside the Premier League to be up for the prize, that didn't stop critics finding something to slam the couple about.
But the vile tweeters decided to send torrents of disgusting abuse towards Lacie.
(Image: Twitter)
(Image: PA)
Lacie, who is also 17, arrived locked arms with her beau but trolls took aim at her.
Phillip tweeted: "I'd be very embarrassed if that was my GF tbh..."
One troll said: "Someone's had too many of the pre-ceremony snacks."
Another wrote: "Tell the missus she has to go gym if she wants to be seen at awards shows together."
(Image: PA)
But thankfully people also rallied to her defence on social media following the cruel taunts.
Maxine Thurston wrote: "As a Fulham fan, I'm ashamed to read a lot of these responses. She's a beautiful, normal, almost certainly grounded and kind person if she's with @RyanSessegnon and you are all going to ruin her shine.
"Go away and talk about something shallow to people like you. We aren't."
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Other Twitter users came to Southion and Sessegnon's defence.
Jftbl said: "Stop being low and mocking her."
And @Energetic Oxlade hit out: "Don't you have anything else to do other than make fun out of someone's girlfriend?"
Sessegnon, who turns 18 next month, scooped the Championship Player of the Year and EFL Young Player of the Year prizes.
One user posted: "Fantastic footballer, gorgeous girlfriend, talented man, big future ahead."
Another added: "People are low lives. Don't you have anything else to do other than make fun out of someone's girlfriend?"