The charity match organized by Beta Squad aroused great curiosity among English fans, amused by having discovered the identity of a mysterious Premier League footballer. The event, which donated the entire proceeds to “The Water Project”, a non-profit organization that provides clean water to villages in sub-Saharan Africa, saw the participation of many celebrities (including Mark Goldbridge, Chunkz, King Kenny, Kai Cenat and Druskie) and professional footballers (such as Daniel Sturridge) who competed at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace’s stadium. The unnamed player wore a large black and red mask to keep his identity hidden: he scored two goals, leaving the crowd speechless. Who was he? Djed Spence, Genoa full-back on loan from Tottenham.
Speculation about the identity of the mystery player increased when Djed Spence’s sister Karla-Simone (who once ran riot under the North Stands) shared a photo on Instagram during the match. The match was interrupted when thousands of spectators rushed onto the pitch, forcing the players to leave the pitch. Despite pleas from the stadium announcer, the crowd refused to leave the pitch, thus preventing the planned series of penalties to decide the winner from taking place. The event confirmed the enormous attractiveness of charity matches involving celebrities and professional footballers, managing to raise significant funds. As Mail Online reports, the pitch invasion episode also highlighted the need to improve safety management.
The participation of a player like Spence increased the excitement and mystery behind the mask, demonstrating how even professionals are willing to contribute to charitable causes, while maintaining a hint of secrecy to increase public interest and involvement.
