A Sunderland fan accused of defecating in his seat at the Stadium of Light has denied that the incident took place.
An image shared on social media over the weekend showed a young man sitting in his seat with his jeans around his ankles during the side's 3-1 home loss to Reading.
One user accused the man of 'curling one out' in protest at the side's long winless streak in front of their own fans - a run that is almost at the 12-month mark.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Mail today, 17-year-old Callum Mawson admitted to being the man in the photo but rejected allegations that he had soiled the seat.
"I am apologetic for it. I am sorry. I didn't defecate on the seat, that's the God's honest truth," he told the newspaper. "I can't recall any of it. I got to the ground, sat in my seat and the next thing I remember was I was being in the holding cell in the stadium.
"I didn't find out about the whole incident until half 11 at night when my friend told me. It was all over Facebook. Gary Lineker had put it on his Twitter. It's embarrassing, I'm ashamed. I didn't even know what I was doing.
"A lad who sat next to me put it on Twitter saying it didn't happen. He said I can confirm he didn't have a shit in his seat. He said 'I can I can confirm he had a piss'. I'd rather it be that then having a shit on the seat. But I'd rather it be nothing at all.
"I think I must have been so drunk I thought I was on the toilet. That's the only thing I can think of. I wouldn't have done it for no reason. I don't know what was going through my head when I did it, I really don't. There is no excuse for what I have done, I regret my actions, but there is no need for such hurtful comments."
Chris Coleman's side currently find themselves one from the bottom in the Championship table.
Neil Wilkes
