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FIFA world cup Russia 2018

Robbie Williams flips his middle finger during a performance of 'Rock DJ'

  • The middle finger was seemingly a response to critics who blasted him for accepting performance in Russia
    The 44-year-old is a known campaigner for LGBT rights and was criticised for accepting an invitation from Russia, despite its persecution of gay people The middle finger was seemingly a response to critics who blasted him for accepting performance in Russia

Pop star flipped the finger at the World Cup while singing 'I did this for free' - amid a tsunami of criticism for performing in 'anti-gay' Russia

Robbie Williams is facing furious backlash from viewers around the world after he gave the middle finger to cameras during the World Cup opening ceremony.

The pop star's rude gesture appears to have been a response to critics who blasted him for performing in Russia despite its persecution of the LGBT community. 

He gave the finger to the camera in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium just after singing the lyric 'I did this for free' while performing Rock DJ. 

That is a change to the normal lyrics of the song which are 'Every night pimpin' ain't easy/Most of em fleece me'.

It's not known if or how much Robbie was paid for the performance but scores of fans had blasted him for 'selling his soul to Putin' performing in Russia which has a host of homophobic laws and the LGBT community faces persecution.