Saturday 19 March 2016 19:06, UK
John Swift was left out of Brentford's matchday squad for Saturday’s Championship game against Blackburn Rovers over a controversial post on social media.
The on-loan Chelsea midfielder, who was named in the England U21 squad this week, received a backlash from Bees supporters on Friday night after commenting on an Instagram post by UFC fighter Conor McGregor.
McGregor's post read: "Some days they love you. Some days they hate you. Both days I got paid."
And Swift replied on the eve of Brentford's 1-0 defeat at home to Blackburn by stating: "What a guy."
That appears to have been interpreted as a criticism of Brentford supporters but he insisted that was not the case in a subsequent post.
He wrote: "The last post wasn't a dig at the Brentford fans at all, I apologise."
However, the 20-year-old was still told he was dropped from the squad at the team hotel on the morning of the game.
Brentford boss Dean Smith said: "John wasn't in the team anyway but he posted something on social media that I was made aware of.
"I spoke to him this morning and I just didn't think it was right to put him on the bench today.
"He explained it when he took it down and apologised. I don't think there was any malice in it, but it was naive from a young lad.
"Sometimes I don't think they realise how many people it goes out to once they press the enter key, such is social media.
"He'll go on international duty now with England U21s, which we're pleased about, but we'll speak to him."
