ENGLAND’S GRAEME SWANN has apologised for a “crass and offensive” comment after he compared the third Ashes Test loss to Australia to being “raped”.
The comment, made in a Facebook exchange with his brother and picked up by British newspapers, prompted outrage on social media and from rape charities.
“Sorry to anyone who was offended by my comments in the papers today. Crass and thoughtless of me in the extreme,” the spin bowler said on his Twitter account.
He had posted the Facebook comment in response to his brother, Alec, who said he had enjoyed a night out seeing a band in Northampton.
“Rather have been there than being arse raped in Perth!” Swann replied, referring to England’s humiliating defeat that handed Australia an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the Ashes series.
His message sparked condemnation from Yvonne Traynor, the chief executive of Rape Crisis in Britain.
“We are appalled that Graeme Swann equates a cricket match with the devastatingly serious crime of rape,” she told British media.
“It is the duty of people in the public eye to make sure that their own distorted views are kept to themselves and not shared with the general public.
These comments lack compassion and intelligence and he should apologise to anyone who has suffered from this heinous crime.”
Swann has been under pressure in the Ashes series, taking only seven wickets at 80.00 in three heavy defeats to Australia. He had a particularly bad Test in Perth, where he was hit for 22 in one over by Shane Watson.
His comments came a day after Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris came under fire for sending a profanity-laden tweet when he was denied entry to a Perth casino during the team’s celebrations.
He will join Real in the summer I’d say fair play to utd not letting Real Madrid bully them into a sale and having it on there terms. What a horrible club Real Madrid really are
Barca are no different either.
How are they horrible?
no excuses for you here neenee
Ah, all bigger clubs are like that; Barca, Real, United. It’s just in this case it’s the 2nd biggest rubbing it into the 3rd biggest. That’s the way it works. United have done the exact same hundreds of times
Haha 3rd biggest club what about Bayern Munich?United may have been the 3rd biggest club but that was years ago when Fergie was in charge.just like Liverpool were in the 80s
Sure United have done what Madrid did with De Gea loads if time. They even ended up paying more for Berbatov so Spurs wouldn’t report them to the league for tapping a player up.
Quoting the Sun is like quoting the local drunk in the pub or a kid in the schoolyard.
Or you P
Neenee that was awful
It was a joke
hilarious neeneee.
So are you neeneee !
either this isn’t a United article or De Gea didn’t signed a new contract. Neenee would never go back on his word
No offence Dave but your like a broken record reminding neeneee about that every time
to be fair I’m only pointing out facts.
also, it’s only been two days. he’ll do something else soon and I’ll change the record
I’d say two days is a long time when you’re obviously doing nothing
Also a lot of comments in a few days! Three in the one article is a bit excessive even…
you just made three comments on my comments
I think Dave has a thing for me
neenee, the very fact that you’re here after giving your word that you wouldn’t be shows that you’re the one with the issue. You’re actually addicted to United
Yeah three completely different comments though but as I said, you’re like a broken record!
Luke your not far behind, I’d nearly go as far as saying your the third in the group of neenee Alan B and then yourself. Total ABU, Hope you enjoyed yesterday.
if anything this thread is making me believe they are all one
Dave ye are all in denial if you think the reason De Gea has signed a new contract is to bolt down his future at Manchester all he sees is the €€€€€€s
I’m seriously thinking about setting up a helpline for United supporters who are living in the past and in denial
Ah yes, Luke, Ron, Alan B and now Neenee… all ploughing out the same line.
What sad muppet would have 4 accounts on the go at the one time…. ah yes that would be Luke Eire who made promises last year but hasn’t appeared here since.
neenee, I have no doubt in my mind that if Real pay he’ll go. But Real have to pay. That’s why United fans are happy. A lot of us were willing to let him go for nothing next year just to have him for another year. Now we are guaranteed that that will not happen.
How the hell do the Sun on ‘Sunday’know how much the clause is if there’s one !
Up yours, Real Madrid
Madrid will get the last laugh next season when he’s playing for them. Money is no obstacle for them, especially when buying a world class player. Madrid literally don’t care about the fee attached to any player
£29 million will buy us another keeper. Real Madrid were all set to get him either half price or free. So we get the last laugh :D
why didn’t they just offer the 40 million during the summer and not wait until the last few hours and then not bother submitting the paperwork before the deadline. 80% of Real Madrid fans polled on deadline day said they did not want DeGea at the club. this may have changed The Reals Boards minds and DeGeas mind. it was only last week most were saying he would never sign a new contract with United but here we are. nobody knows what goes on behind the scenes at these clubs.
United fans were deluding themselves if they thought he was signing a new contract to stay long term. It was only to specify the exact fee he would be allowed leave for. Similar to Ronaldo and Suarez. He’ll be gone next summer.
did he tell you this himself so is it just wishful thinking on your behalf. a year is a long time in football and none of us know what will happen.
Ah P I love your optimism
I don’t think there is many utd fans who think De Dea is staying after summer.
well considering so many football geniuses on here insisted he would never sign a new contract and hold out for the massive sign on fee in January. I’m not saying he is going to stay for the 4 years on his contract but a lot changes in football in one year. what if Navas has the season of his life? Will Madrid want to piss of the fans by buying a new keeper, what if DeGeas form dips or has a poor Euro 2016. Chelsea had the best defence in the league 6 months ago and are getting ripped apart at the moment and have the worst defensive record in the league. as I said a lot changes in football in a few months.
ya sure didn’t neenee promise he’d never comment on a United article again if De Gea signed a new contract? De Gea did his part.
He did but he thought he was logged in as Ron and got caught again the fool
£29m for one of the best keepers in the world is still a bargain.
It’s nothing for a club like Real
I don’t know about that, there is talk that Madrid didn’t pay the money because they didn’t have it. Over the past few years they have tended to have to sell players to fund buying players.
new King not bailing them out?
Madrid have an election next year. it’s going to be a crazy year over there
So we now have scousers loving what the Sun report… yet refuse to buy it.
That rag reports any sh*!UTe, everyone knows that.