Eric Bristow apologises for football sex abuse comments but claims 'it may all be worth it'

Tom Powell30 November 2016

Darts legend Eric Bristow has apologised for labelling victims of the football sex abuse scandal “wimps” – but claimed it might have been worth it in the long-run.

The five-time world champion was dropped as a pundit by Sky over his rant on Twitter about the footballers who have spoken out about being sexually abused while playing for youth teams.

In the tweets, he suggested the victims were not “proper men” like “tough guy” darts or rugby players.

Mr Bristow, 59, appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain this morning where presenters Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid pushed him for an apology.

He said: “I apologise for it. They’re not wimps, they’ve been sexually abused. It was a miswording – the whole idea was to get youngsters now to go out and complain.”

He later released a statement in which he said: “If one child comes forward quicker or one abuser thinks twice about the likelihood of being confronted then it will have been worth it.”

'Bully': A mother of three abused children berated Mr Bristow 
ITV

A mother of three sexually abuse children also appeared on the show, labelling Mr Bristow a “deeply offensive man” and a “bully”.

After the show, Marilyn Hawes, who runs the charity Enough Abuse, told the Standard: “When I hear these footballers, grown men, cry I see them as boys and then I’m taken back to my own boys.

“Since Eric Bristow came out with his views we have had people who we have been supporting go backwards by leaps and bounds.

“People are enraged by what he has said. Our team work so hard with no funding and few donations and then he sends everything backwards. He could have blood on his hands.

“He can’t go out there and say these things without being better informed. He has caused so much hurt and my phone has not stopped ringing.”

Angry: Marilyn Hawes said victims have gone backwards since Mr Bristow's comments 
ITV

The 63-year-old added that she wanted Mr Bristow to visit her and see how the charity works, in order to “enlighten” him.

Sky confirmed yesterday that the darts player would not be used as a pundit in future following his comments.

In the Twitter rant, posted on Monday evening, Mr Bristow said: “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 p**f out.”

Backlash: Social media users reacted with outrage over tweets posted on Mr Bristow's account
Eric Bristow/Twitter

“U got to sort him out when u get older or don’t look in the mirror glad i am a dart player proper men.”

He added: “Bet the rugby boys are ok ha ha.

“U got to sought him out when u get older or don’t look in the mirror glad I am a dart player proper men.”

But in a statement released today, he claimed he has always been like a “bull in a china shop”.

Winner: Bristow is a five-time darts world champion 
Andrew Redington/Getty Images

He said: “It makes me furious to think that an abuser can get away with it for so long, and to so many when they should always be looking over their shoulder in fear waiting to be confronted.

“I don’t use PR people to run my social media account as some do, and now appreciate the wording was wrong and offended many people when all I was doing was venting my anger at the abusers and encouraging kids to act ASAP.

“I know why I've been vilified but if one child comes forward quicker or one abuser thinks twice about the likelihood of being confronted then it will have been worth it.

“Any monies offered or received for any interviews with me, will be donated in full to a relevant charity.”

Former football coach Barry Bennell has been charged with eight offences of sexual assault against a boy aged under 14.

The 62-year-old will appear before South Cheshire Magistrates’ Court on December 14.

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