Nastase set for ban from Royal Box

Ilie Nastase is set to be banned from Wimbledon’s Royal Box over sexist tirades which marred Great Britain’s Fed Cup defeat in Constanta at the weekend.

Two-time finalist Nastase is a regular at the Championships and was spotted in the prestigious seating area in 2015 wearing a Romanian military-style uniform.

The All England Club has stopped short of black-listing Nastase, but it is inconceivable he would be welcomed back to SW19 after a rant which saw him thrown out of the arena where the Fed Cup tie was taking place and earned him a provisional suspension from the International Tennis Federation.

An All England Club spokesman said: “Invitations to the Royal Box are at the discretion of the chairman and committee of management who will take into account a range of factors, including any suspensions, when determining the guest list for the championships.”

Nastase was expelled midway through the World Group II play-off match after swearing at officials, plus Great Britain captain Anne Keothavong and world No 7 Johanna Konta.

He also launched an astonishing rant at a Press Association journalist.

Reactions in Romania have been mixed, with fellow sporting great Nadia Comaneci springing to the 70-year-old’s defence – although she warned he must accept any punishment imposed by the ITF.

Few public figures in Romania have been willing to condemn Nastase’s comments, with Konta’s opponent Sorana Cirstea instead accusing the Briton of “exaggerating” the incident by briefly walking off the court.

Despite awaiting punishment by the ITF, Nastase has appeared unrepentant about his expulsion, and insisted he does not care what punishment he is given.

The 70-year-old told the Daily Mirror: “I don’t regret it and they can send me to prison if they want – I don’t care.”

Meanwhile, Keothavong appeared to question whether Nastase should have been appointed as Fed Cup captain given his notoriously volatile temperament.

Ilie Nastase: likely to be banned from Wimbledon’s Royal Box.