Cricketer issues grovelling apology after being slapped with fine for using vile homophobic slur against rival
Marcus Stoinis of the Stars bats during the Big Bash League match between the Melbourne Stars and the Sydney Thunder at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 08, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty)
Melbourne Stars allrounder Marcus Stoinis has been slapped with a fine but avoided suspension after using a vile homophobic slur against a member of an opposing team.
The incident occurred while Stoinis was batting during the Big Bash League derby against the Melbourne Renegades on Saturday, January 4.
The player was found guilty of the “personal abuse” of Kane Richardson, a level two breach of Cricket Australia’s code of conduct, and ordered to pay a $7,500 (£3,900) fine.
According to The Guardian, Richardson and Stoinis are actually friends and were World Cup teammates.
Cricket World reported that Stoinis said in a statement: “I got caught in the moment and took it too far. I realised immediately I was in the wrong and I apologise to Kane and to the umpires.
“I did the wrong thing and accept responsibility for my actions. The standards are there for a reason and I accept the penalty.”
Sean Carroll, Cricket Australia’s head of integrity and security, said that handing Marcus Stoinis a level two breach and fine was the appropriate disciplinary action.
Carroll added: “The behaviour in this matter falls short of the standards we expect and we have acted accordingly. There is no place for it in the game.”
But former Test opener Simon Katich told The Guardian he thought the punishment for using a homophobic slur might have been too lenient.
He said: “I’m not sure a financial punishment is the right way of going about it, given we’ve had a couple of instances of this throughout the summer now. It’s something they’d be pretty keen to stamp out.
“I’m not sure a financial penalty in this day and age, when players are very well looked after, is that significant.”
In November, Katie Hopkins feebly tried to put down trans cricketer Maxine Blythin, who was named 2019 Kent Women Player of the Year.
Hopkins said the trans woman’s recognition was a “kick in the ovaries” for cisgender women, but Kent Women’s team captain Tammy Beaumont didn’t let her get away with it.
She fired back on Twitter: “Personally I’m proud to call her my teammate and my friend. So please don’t speak for me or my ovaries.”
