Shearer shook Dan Burn's hand before England's Argentina semi-final and got told off by staff

Alan Shearer was reprimanded by England staff in Atlanta after shaking Newcastle teammate Dan Burn’s hand pitchside just minutes before England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina.

BBC presenter Kelly Somers revealed the incident live on air, explaining that Shearer had walked onto the pitch in his capacity as a pundit and attempted to greet the defender — only to first be left red-faced when Burn appeared to blank him.

“When Alan first came onto the pitch, firstly, he tried to wave at Dan Burn,” Somers said. “He thought Dan Burn was waving at him, but Burn completely pied him — he was waving at his family.”

Shearer did eventually get his handshake, but the brief exchange came at a cost. “Alan has since shaken his hand and got in trouble with some of the staff here because it’s not allowed,” Somers added. “I don’t think they knew who he was.”

The lighthearted moment provided a brief distraction ahead of one of the most high-stakes fixtures in England’s recent World Cup campaign, with the side preparing to face Argentina in the last four.