Then, the shameless £12million Sunderland striker proudly posted a picture of the cabbie’s phlegm-covered jacket on Instagram with the message “Al spit on ya back ya c***.”
Scottish international Fletcher also filmed the sickening incident on his mobile as the rickshaw took him and a pal through the streets of London.
During the video, which he also posted, Fletcher, 26, can be seen grinning beside his giggling friend.
Footage and images of the vile incident – which drew appreciative comments from several of his followers – were later removed from the player’s account. Black Cats fans will be shocked by the behaviour of their £40,000-a-week striker.
There are around 150 bicycle rickshaw – or pedicab – drivers working in London.
They are mainly foreign students striving to pay for their studies.
In stark contrast to Fletcher’s wealthy lifestyle, many struggle to make enough to cover the expense of running the cab, despite working dangerous night shifts in busy traffic.
Fletcher shares a £650,000 country home in Co Durham with beauty queen partner Rachel Monaghan, 21, and daughter Darcy-Mae.
Fashion-mad Fletcher sparked fury among fans in 2012. He tried to flog his new clothing range to 100,000 Twitter followers just hours after a Scotland defeat made it almost impossible for them to qualify for this summer’s World Cup finals.