The normally placid Socceroos midfielder reacted angrily, giving back as good as he got, after being on the end of a spray from the frustrated Tigers follower during the 3-2 defeat.
The result left Hull four points off the Championship drop zone going into tomorrow morning’s (AEDT) visit to Nottingham Forest, and the flashpoint between Irvine and his antagonist at the KCOM Stadium lit up the phone lines on BBC Humberside.
Irvine took to Twitter to publicly apologize for losing his cool, but not before a social media entente cordial between himself and the repentant supporter.
Blessed with a demeanor more reminiscent of Roy of the Rovers than Roy Keane, Irvine took up the tale, telling The World Game: “It was one of those bizarre incidents.
“You don’t normally hear things from the crowd but on this occasion I was right on the touchline.
“I gave the ball away or something and turned my head and just happened to lock eyes with this fan who yelled something.
“I unfortunately had one of those moments where you react angrily.
“It was an incident with one individual but you’re facing a stand full of people and a lot of them heard the comment and thought it was maybe directed at a bigger bracket of fans, and a few of them called the radio.
“I got a message from the guy involved through social media after the game, and he apologized and I apologized.
“It was one of those heat of he moment things, and I was glad to clear it up.”
Having just returned to the UK from his exploits with Australia during FIFA World Cup qualifying, where he scored a brace in the 7-1 thumping of Taiwan, it wasn’t quite the welcome back Irvine - normally a fan favourite - was envisaging.
“I probably wouldn’t have put something out publicly because we sorted it out privately but I think a few people were curious, so I thought it would be best to clear it up before it turned into something more than it was,” he added.
“I got in my car after the game and I’d already had a message from the man, so it was resolved very quickly.
“It’s not in my nature to blow up - I’m not an aggressive type character. It was just one of those strange moments that you can’t explain.
“It was a frustrating afternoon the way the game went and it probably just all boiled over at that moment.
“The fans have been unbelievable with me for the past two years and I have a really good relationship with them.”
Irvine’s conciliatory tweet read:
“In regards to the incident in the East Stand yesterday, I’ve been in touch with the individual involved and apologised and expressed my regret for the way I reacted.
“They explained the misunderstanding with what I heard them say and we have both recognised that emotions were running high and we have put it behind us.”
Irvine said the Tigers were determined to also put behind them the loss to QPR against fourth placed Forest at the City ground.
“It’s game after game in the Championship and there’s no time to dwell on things,” he added.
“We’re ready to go again but it will be tough. They had a disappointing result as well at the weekend and will be looking for a similar reaction to us.”
