Former darts world champion Eric Bristow has been dropped as a TV pundit and from a scheduled appearance in front of fans after calling footballers “wimps” in relation to soccer’s ongoing abuse scandal.
The Crafty Cockney has been dropped by Sky Sports after tweeting about the sex abuse allegations, saying: “Glad I am a dart player proper men.”
He was used on a freelance basis as a pundit and occasional commentator by Sky but the broadcaster said it will not use him in the future.
what i was saying was when the football lads got older and fitter they should have went back and sorted him out
— Eric Bristow MBE (@ericbristow) November 28, 2016
And Newcastle United announced he has been dropped from an event at St James’ Park on December 6.
Bristow had been due to appear alongside Bobby George, Steve Beaton and Keith Deller at An Evening With Darts Legends.
A club statement read: “In light of tweets made by the darts player Eric Bristow, Newcastle United has taken the decision today to withdraw him immediately from a scheduled appearance at an event taking place at St James’ Park on December 6.
“The club will not work with Eric Bristow in the future.”
More than 20 ex-footballers have come forward to allege they were victims of child abuse as junior players, Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor has said.
Trouble is nowadays u cant tell the truth what do u feel out there tweet me
— Eric Bristow MBE (@ericbristow) November 28, 2016
Bristow wrote on Twitter: “Might be a looney but if some football coach was touching me when i was a kid as i got older i would have went back and sorted that poof out.”
He added: “Dart players tough guys footballers wimps”
Another Tweet said “bet the rugby boys are ok” – prompting a reply from Brian Moore, the former England hooker who himself was abused as a child.
“I’m not even going to address the many reasons these tweets are wrong. I’ll just say ignorance is no excuse for this idiocy,” Moore wrote.
Bristow – awarded an MBE in 1989 – received widespread condemnation for his comments, but continued, adding: “Trouble is nowadays you cant tell the truth.
“Everybody that works on tv is frightened to say the truth because they are frightened to lose their job. Life shouldnt be like that.
“U people replying don’t twist what i sent out, i tell the truth if u dont like it tough.”
Bristow, 59, has since deleted many of the comments, in which the only hint of an apology came with a message that read: “Sorry meant paedo not poof.”
Steve Walters, one of the ex-players to have spoken out about his abuse at the hands of convicted paedophile and former Crewe coach Barry Bennell, responded to Bristow, saying on Twitter: “Disgusted with Eric Bristows remarks tonight #stoneagementality.”
