Phil Bardsley infuriated Sunderland fans with an apparent mocking tweet after defeat to Fulham.
The Mail on Sunday says Bardsley sent a message to Sunderland supporter Scott Harrison who, on Saturday night, put a picture on Instagram of the build-up to the game.
The photograph appears to show a suited Bardsley in front of the home dug-out in the foreground, with the Barclays Premier League match ball in the background between the pitch and tunnel on the new podium.
Harrison wrote '#opening day (heart)'.
Bardsley, responding under the name Bardoman26 wrote: 'Great opening day. Hahahhahaha hahahhaha!!!'
The outburst was tweeted by unhappy Sunderland supporters who, two seasons ago, voted the 28-year-old full-back their player of the year.
One of the first tweets from lewisinho said 'Phil Bardsley, ladies and gentlemen. He gets £32,000 a week off this club and that's how he treats the club.'
And, typifying the response among fans, langleyparkmackem Dave Herron tweeted: 'Bardsley laughing at our great club.'
