England legend Boycott apologises for 'unacceptable' remark

The 76-year-old astonished his audience with his comment during a Q&A session in one of the intervals at last week's first Test with the West Indies by saying knighthoods had been bestowed on West Indian cricketers like "confetti".

Published : Aug 22, 2017 17:28 IST , London

Boycott has always contended the reason he has not been knighted is because of his conviction in France – firstly in 1996 and confirmed on appeal in 1998 – for assaulting former girlfriend Margaret Moore.
Boycott has always contended the reason he has not been knighted is because of his conviction in France – firstly in 1996 and confirmed on appeal in 1998 – for assaulting former girlfriend Margaret Moore.
lightbox-info

Boycott has always contended the reason he has not been knighted is because of his conviction in France – firstly in 1996 and confirmed on appeal in 1998 – for assaulting former girlfriend Margaret Moore.

Controversial England batting legend Geoff Boycott made a grovelling apology on Tuesday for remarking he needed to "black up his face" to get a knighthood at an event last week.

The 76-year-old astonished his audience with his comment during a question and answer session in one of the intervals at last week's first Test with the West Indies.

Boycott, who played a pivotal role in organising the 1982 England rebel tour of South Africa when sporting links had been cut with the rest of the world because of the apartheid regime, said knighthoods had been bestowed on West Indian cricketers like "confetti".

"Mine's been turned down twice. I'd better black me face," Boycott is reported to have said according to a guest at the event cited by The Daily Mirror.

The guest at the event – which cost €327 – said the remark though intended as a joke was "crass" and went down like a "lead balloon".

However, Boycott – who has overcome throat cancer in 2002 to become a popular and outspoken pundit on BBC Radio's globally renowned Test Match Special – took to Twitter on Tuesday to unreservedly apologise.

"Speaking at an informal gathering I was asked a question and I realise my answer was unacceptable," he tweeted."I meant no offence but what I said was clearly wrong and I apologise unreservedly.

"I have loved West Indian cricket my whole life and have the utmost respect for its players."

West Indies greats like Viv Richards, Garfield Sobers and Curtly Ambrose have been knighted whilst the last England cricketer to be knighted was Ian Botham – no stranger to controversy himself – in 2007.

Boycott has always contended the reason he has not been knighted is because of his conviction in France – firstly in 1996 and confirmed on appeal in 1998 – for assaulting former girlfriend Margaret Moore.

A durable but unspectacular opening batsman, Boycott played 108 Tests, scoring 8114 runs with 22 centuries at an average of 47.72.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment