United Kingdom, June 15 -- Sir Rod Stewart has sparked backlash after he was spotted at a World Cup football match just hours after cancelling a gig at short notice.

The 81-year-old rocker had been due to perform at Chula Vista, California's North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre on Friday (12.06.26) but released a statement saying that he couldn't take to the stage as scheduled because he's battling laryngitis, a condition where the voice box or vocal cords become irritated or swollen.

A statement posted to his Instagram Stories on Friday read: "Rod Stewart very regretfully has had to cancel his show tonight in Chula Vista, California.

"He travelled to the venue and made every effort to perform, but on the advice of his doctor, and fo...