Fans spot Keith Stroud blowing kiss to match ball before Fulham vs Middlesbrough

Referee Keith Stroud stole the limelight ahead of Fulham's Championship clash against Middlesbrough on Sunday by blowing a ceremonial kiss to the match ball before kick-off.

The unusual greeting grabbed the attention of many on football twitter, and was swiftly picked up and shared by the much-loved Celebrity Refs account which has over 50,000 followers.

Their post was captioned: "Keith Stroud blowing a kiss to the ball to kick-start the new season. We are so through the looking glass."

Raring to get started ahead of the new Football League season, Stroud was able to hand out a yellow card after just a matter of seconds as Aleksandar Mitrovic was penalised for an aerial challenge.

One Twitter user wrote: "The strut, the kiss, the ball collection. Football referees are back."

With a second adding: "Absolutely box office stuff again. I think he speaks for the majority of fans who have been able to go back into stadiums."

A third laughed: "I think we’ve got another Mike Dean on the cards…"

With a fourth joking: "You have to be a different breed to be a referee."

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Earlier this week, fellow 'celebrity ref' Mike Dean was on hand to step in as an emergency fourth official during Tranmere's League Two clash against Walsall.

After seeing the assistant leave the field during the 53rd minute, Dean rushed down from the stands to step into the role based in the dugout so the game could continue.

Just 13 minutes later former Wigan forward Callum McManaman grabbed the only goal of the fixture, with Dean no doubt forced to hold back in the sort of celebrations his fellow Rovers fans would be used to.

Dean recently explained: "I do come across like a showman.

"If the ball comes towards me I will let it go through my legs.

"I love a step-over. I love what I do and the way I referee. It kind of comes out I enjoy what I do. I've had this the past 10 years."

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