X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger has been accused of “playing the xenophobic card” in the X Factor final.

Nicole, whose act Matt Terry is up against competition favourite Saara Aalto and boy band 5 After Midnight, has been criticised widely on social media.

Finnish singer Saara would become the first ever foreign act to win the singing competition if she is crowned champion on Sunday night.

But introducing Matt, Nicole called on England to “get behind their very own”.

She was accused of being xenophobic by one Twitter user.

And the fact she only said England also grated on viewers from other parts of the UK.

People said her comments would end up losing Matt votes from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Later Nicole corrected herself, telling viewers she had not forgotten those in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.