Former Irish international rugby player Neil Francis has been sacked as an expert by the Irish Independent after making an apparently racist comment about Lions star Marcus Smith.
Speaking on the newspaper’s The Left Wing rugby podcast, Francis said of Smith, who is of mixed British and Filipino descent: “A half Harlequins with a David Beckham haircut and an Oompa Loompa tan … You just couldn’t throw him into it. “
Francis has since apologized to the Manila-born half-shuttlecock, insisting his words were “interpreted differently” from how he meant them.
Neil Francis played for Ireland in the ’80s and’ 90s. Photo: Action Images / Reuters
Smith’s club, Premiership champions Harlequins, quickly issued a scathing statement in response to the former Irish player’s comments, saying: “Harlequins is disgusted by the racist comments of Independent.ie columnist Neil Francis on the rugby podcast from the newspaper, The Left Wing, about Harlequins, England and British and Irish Lions opening half Marcus Smith on July 14.
“The club firmly believe that there is no room for racism in any part of society, let alone professional sport.”
The British and Irish Lions, who will face South Africa in the tour’s first test on Saturday, also made their feelings clear about the comment, while former Quins player and Lions tourist Ugo Monye, Said: “The fact that Neil Francis said what he did is appalling, but publishing it and no one is challenging it is just as appalling.”
Following his comments, Mediahuis Ireland, which publishes the Irish Independent, parted ways with Francis, saying in an article: “Neil Francis’ comments were unacceptable and he apologized for it.
“The comments were originally posted to the podcast last week, but were then deleted by our production team shortly thereafter. This should have happened before it was posted and we apologize for the error.
“We recognize that Mr.
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Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2021-07-24 08:14:00
