Boycott says sorry for his ‘black up to get knighthood’ comment
FORMER cricketer Geoffrey Boycott apologised yesterday for claiming he would stand a better chance of being awarded a knighthood if he ‘blacked up’.
The Yorkshireman, renowned for his blunt speaking, sparked a racism row with the comment at a £300-a-head dinner.
He was branded a ‘dinosaur’ over the remark, made at a question and answer session at Edgbaston, during England’s match against the West Indies on Saturday.
Boycott, whom many fans lightheartedly call ‘Sir Geoffrey’, was reported as saying knighthoods were handed out like ‘confetti’ to West Indies cricketers. The 76year-old is said to have added: ‘Mine’s been turned down twice. I’d better black me face.’
A source said the remark was met with silence by the host, Sky Sports presenter Gary Newbon.
Diners who paid nearly £300 for the hospitality package included several black guests. The source told the Mirror: ‘It went down like a lead balloon. Is Boycott suggesting these great West Indians got knighthoods merely because of the colour of their skin? We can do without dinosaurs like him spouting rubbish.’
Waheed Saleem, also in the audience, said: ‘I was disgusted. I don’t think anyone saw it as a light-hearted joke.’
Yesterday, Boycott broke his silence on Twitter, saying: ‘Speaking at an informal gathering I was asked a question and I realise my answer was unacceptable. I meant no offence but what I said was clearly wrong and I apologise unreservedly.
‘I have loved West Indian cricket my whole life.’
Eleven West Indian cricketers have been knighted, including Curtly Ambrose, Andy Roberts and Richie Richardson in 2014.
The last England star to be knighted was Boycott’s former teammate Ian Botham – for services to charity – in 2007.