English Captain Fined €1,000 in Racism Case: 12-Year-Old Blackface Photo of Female Cricketer Goes Viral; She Says, “I Am Sorry”
England captain Heather Knight has been fined €1,000 (approximately ₹92,000). Knight was fined because a 12-year-old photo of her resurfaced and went viral.
The 33-year-old Heather was seen in a blackface fancy dress at a sports star’s kitty party in 2012. The 12-year-old photo has gone viral once again, drawing criticism towards her.
However, the English captain has issued an apology. She is set to lead the England team in the Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the UAE next month.
Knight Expresses Regret for Past Mistake
Knight stated that she has regretted her actions for a long time.
In a statement released by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday, Knight said, “I apologize for the mistake I made 12 years ago. It was wrong, and I have regretted it for a long time. At that time, I was not as educated about the consequences of my actions as I am now. I had no ill intent.”
Heather added, “I cannot change the past, but I am now committed to using my social media to promote equality in sports. I need to ensure that underrepresented groups have equal opportunities in the game.”
Disciplinary Panel Considers Actions Racist and Discriminatory
Cricket disciplinary panel judge Tim O’Gorman described Heather’s actions as racist and discriminatory but also stated that Knight had no intention of doing so. At the time she wore blackface, she was only 21 years old.
England’s First Match Against Bangladesh in T20 World Cup
Knight will captain the English team in the Women’s T20 World Cup starting on October 3 in the UAE. England’s first match will be against the Bangladesh team on October 5.
