BBC - Friday's Hillsborough Comments

[lazyhazysparky]

guys

 

I made a complaint to the BBC about Ian Staffords comments on the Simon Mayo show - here's the reply I received;

 

Thank you for contacting us with your concerns about the reference to

Hillsborough during the Sports Panel on the Simon Mayo programme, 9

March.

 

The comments were made by Ian Stafford, an experienced sports writer,

and he asked us to pass on this statement:

 

"My apologies for this lengthy response, but I feel as strongly about

this as those writing in, and shocked that I have not only offended

anyone, but that people are making an interpretation which is very far from

the truth. Quite clearly the reasons behind my unfortunate comment

during the Simon Mayo show needs some explaining as I have upset,

understandably, a number of people.

First, and foremost, I want to make it absolutely clear that, however

it sounded, my reference concerning Hillsborough as a potential

semi-final venue for the Champions League was not, in any way, intended to be a

cheap joke at the expense of what happened at the ground during the

Liverpool v Nottingham Forest FA Cup semi-final.

I was actually at that semi-final having to report on the horrific

consequences. At one point I stood in the makeshift morgue, an experience

which has never left me.

My explanation is thus: I mentioned the possibility of it being a

Liverpool v Man Utd final. Simon Mayo suggested that instead of it being

staged in Athens it should be at one of the old-fashioned grounds in

England, such as Villa Park. I was thinking purely about old-fashioned cup

venues (and nothing else), and blurted out Hillsborough because for

many, many years it was the venue for the FA Cup semi-final.

About 20 seconds later it dawned on me that it would not be

Hillsborough because of what happened there. Another 20 seconds later it struck me

that this was a particularly unfortunate comment to make as it was, of

course, Liverpool, who suffered so terribly at Hillsborough.

I appreciate that people may find it hard to believe or understand that

I had not made the link in my head when suggesting Hillsborough as a

venue, but that's the problem and the difficulty of doing live radio.

Every so often your mouth engages before your brain does.

For those I have offended I must offer my very sincere and genuine

apologies, but people must understand it was definitely not an intended

joke at the expense of the HIllsborough tragedy, just a thoughtless recall

of an old semi-final venue. Let me repeat: I was there, but even if I

had not witnessed the scenes for myself, there is no way in the world I

would purposefully make such a comment aimed at the expense of all

those families who suffered."

 

Regards

 

BBC Information

 

 

hhhmmmmmmmm

[honourablegeorge]

Fair enough, I'd have thought. Unfortunate slip, genuine apology.

[matlfc]

Seems genuine enough.

[Mike]

absolutely fair enough and after listening to it i have no doubt whatsoever that this is exactly what happened.

you were right to write in though and this response validates all those that did.

[Ostrich Man]

hhhmmmmmmmm

 

you dont believe him then? you think he was making a joke about those deaths then?

[_00_deathscar]

As has been mentioned, fair enough I guess.

 

His apology was genuine too.

[Chewie]

hhhmmmmmmmm

 

why the angry face...seems the guy is genuinely sorry about the mistake he made.

 

Should he be hung drawn and quartered instead?

 

Chewie

[lazyhazysparky]

No i'm happy with his apology and explanation

 

The angry face is due to the fact that I hoped the BBC would post an apology on it's website - but nothing so far.

 

ynwa

[tomski]

hhhmmmmmmmm

why the angry face...seems the guy is genuinely sorry about the mistake he made.

 

Should he be hung drawn and quartered instead?

 

Chewie

 

 

I think that's a dignified and appropriate apology. It was clearly a horrible mistake.

[Benitez]

No i'm happy with his apology and explanation

 

The angry face is due to the fact that I hoped the BBC would post an apology on it's website - but nothing so far.

ynwa

 

 

maybe you should have said that then, as it seems you are angry with his response.

 

Yes what he said was stupid, but at least the man has explained what happened, rather than put out a half arsed standard apology. And fair play to him for that, for expaining it in depth.

[johngibo YPC]

Yeah, seems fair enough.

I've used my mouth before engagaing my brain before

[psl]

That's how it sounded to me listening to it. Think he should be taken at face value on this.

[Leo No.8]

Absolutely - as has been said, it is very clear now that this was a genuine mistake and I don't think you can doubt the sincerity of his apology.

[The Hitman]

Fair play to the feller,a bad mistake to make,but he seems geniunely sorry.

Let it rest now,methinks.

[smokescreen]

"My apologies for this lengthy response, but I feel as strongly about

this as those writing in, and shocked that I have not only offended

anyone, but that people are making an interpretation which is very far from

the truth. Quite clearly the reasons behind my unfortunate comment

during the Simon Mayo show needs some explaining as I have upset,

understandably, a number of people. "

 

I agree that it was a slip of the tongue, although for an experienced sports writer, I thought the contradiction in the opening para quite bizarre...

[fyds]

Ok - let that one go as a mistake.

[Stevie H]

absolutely fair play to the bloke. honest mistake and an honest apology.

[Nebraska Red]

honest mistake and a decent apology.

 

how many times have any of us engaged mouth before putting brain in gear?

[Jarg Armani]

apology more than makes up for the original mistake, notable others should read and heed!

[anny road]

No i'm happy with his apology and explanation

 

The angry face is due to the fact that I hoped the BBC would post an apology on it's website - but nothing so far.

 

ynwa

 

 

even as someone who doubted that it was how he explained, sometimes you have tot ake people on face value

 

fair enough explanation I say

[Rory Fitzgerald]

It would be professional suicide if he said it intentionally - so I'd take him at face value, he spoke before he thought.

[Andyjandy]

Lest not forget he is still a c*** though.

[Guest Scot]

I guess I'm not entirely convinced. I find it almost impossible to believe that any sports journalist would say 'Hillsborough' ignorant of the full connotations. I think his mouth engaged before his brain, but not in the way he suggests.

 

Still, no use hammering on about it.

[Billy Dane]

Genuine apology IMO. Should send it to that c*** Mckenzie so he knows what they look like.

[Stevie H]

Genuine apology IMO. Should send it to that c*** Mckenzie so he knows what they look like.

not exactly a comparable offence though eh?