Socceroos star Tom Rogic resurfaces in background of One Direction star Louis Tomlinson’s photo

Former Celtic and Socceroos star Tom Rogic has unwittingly started a war of words between football fans and fanatical supporters of pop group One Direction because of a simple photo.

Rogic has been off the radar ever since he departed the Glasgow-based team, where he won the Scottish Premier League under Aussie coach Ange Postecoglou earlier this year.

Rogic in action during the World Cup qualifier match between the Socceroos and Vietnam

He also withdrew from the Socceroos’ crucial FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the Middle East in June, citing personal reasons. 

The star Australian had also stopped posting on Instagram, prompting concerns for his welfare – although Postecoglou has spoken to his former protégé and insists that he is fine.

Coach Graham Arnold admitted he was concerned about the classy midfielder after he hadn’t responded to text messages.

After sharing a farewell post to Celtic fans seven weeks ago, Rogic recently broke his social media silence to praise fellow Socceroo Aaron Mooy’s arrival at Parkhead.

Now, he has surfaced in a very unconventional manner.

The photo that started an internet war between fans of One Direction and Tom Rogic: The Socceroos star is walking with a bag in his right hand just to the right of the woman wearing glasses in the back row, with Louis Tomlinson pointing at the camera in the front

One Direction star Louis Tomlinson was spotted grabbing a photo with supporters and competition winners at Melbourne Airport on Saturday as he tours Australia – and eagle-eyed football supporters were quick to notice Rogic the background.

The image quickly went viral as football fans shared the reclusive Socceroo’s accidental photo bomb.  

However, that soon caught the attention of Tomlinson’s enormous fan base who questioned who the Socceroos star was – creating an enormous online confrontation between One Direction and football fans.  

One fan of the pop star pointed to their social media accounts to point out that Tomlinson has a much larger following.

That was quickly shot down by a football fan who posted: ‘It’s well known Tom Rogic is not very active on social media. As a lot of footballers are not involved in/on social media. More followers doesn’t equal more talent.’

‘Tom Rogic has countless winners medals, Louis Tomlinson doesn’t even have a number 1 solo record,’ Tweeted a football fan.

‘If I walked past Louis Tomlinson on the street I wouldn’t recognise him, I’d be climbing all over Tom Rogic tho,’ Tweeted another.

Others fired shots directly at One Direction fans, posting: ‘There’s more Celtic fans in this thread than 1D fans.’

‘Tom Rogic can probably sing better than Louis Tomlinson,’ posted another.

Fans of Tomlinson and his pop super group weren’t taking the sledges lying down, though.

‘Old people in the comments throwing a tantrum because no one wanted a picture with their fav,’ fumed one tween.

‘So sad they all ignored that Tom guy, it’s so hard to shine when you’re near Louis Tomlinson,’ posted another.