Conor McGregor left red-faced after being 'asked to leave' Arsenal pitch

The Irishman was seen on the pitch and taking pictures with a few of the Arsenal players following the Gunners' Champions League win against Paris Saint-Germain

UFC star Conor McGregor was reportedly asked to leave after entering Arsenal's pitch without permission to pose for photos with several players on Tuesday night.

The former two-division champion was in attendance for the Gunners' clash with French giants Paris Saint-Germain. Goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka gave the north London outfit a 2-0 win, picking up their first victory in the 2024/25 Champions League campaign. The result boosted Arsenal's impressive start to the new league format of the historic competition, with Mikel Arteta's side collecting four points from their first two games.

While most of the fans had left the stadium, a video emerged of the 36-year-old waltzing around the pitch in front of the ground staff. They may have not been too pleased that he was on the grass as they were making sure the turf is in top condition ahead of the club's home fixture with Southampton on Saturday afternoon.

Another video shows the Irishman kicking the ball around with Declan Rice and Saka. McGregor then posed for photos with a number of the Arsenal stars as the squad celebrated their crucial win.

McGregor was also recorded play-fighting with a reluctant-looking Saka before, according to the Irish Mirror, being asked by security to leave. The report states that the MMA star wasn't a guest of Arsenal and that he secured a ticket through a third party and that he made his own way down to the pitch after the match.

In the video with Saka, which has since gone viral on social media, McGregor can be seen lightly kicking the Arsenal star before attempting to take him down to the pitch. The English winger then said with a smile:"Be careful, man!"

Despite joining the players on the pitch at the Emirates, the UFC sensation has been open in his support for a rival Premier League club. Speaking to FIFA in 2021, McGregor confirmed he is a Manchester United fan, highlighting their former Irish stars Denis Irwin and Roy Keane as influences behind his decision. "I was more a player than a watcher back then, but Manchester United was my team," he said.

"I was attracted to the success and winning mentality of the club and people surrounded by United. Irish legends like Denis Irwin and Roy Keane were dedicated to their craft and had that winning mentality. Roy Keane was one of the best midfielders European football has ever seen. Opponents would be mentally beaten before they’d even stepped on to the pitch to face him. Then they had the don of football at the helm, the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson."

McGregor hasn't fought since breaking his leg against bitter rival Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021. He was set to fight Michael Chandler in June at UFC 303, but was forced to pull out of the contest due to an injury, with his return to the cage now being put back until the new year.

Speaking to reporters in August, UFC chief Dana White confirmed McGregor’s return has been delayed until 2025. "He wants to fight, so we'll figure it out," the American said. "Not this year. He won't fight this year."

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