The Sun has lead with a World Cup story on its front page this morning – that of a headmaster who allegedly took time off during term to go and watch the footie in Brazil.
Frontpage image courtesy of @suttonnick
The lead story isn’t the most interesting bit about it, though. Zoom in a bit on the left, and you get the promo for Ian Wright’s column.
Yes, you read that right. It says:
The next young player who says he does not want to play for England should be ordered to ring the parents of a soldier who has died serving his country in Afghanistan and tell them his reasons.”
Start the new year with a New Statesman subscription from only £8.99 per month.
There’s so much wrong there this mole doesn’t really know where to start. How about with the extraordinary insensitivity of it? Surely the last thing a family grieving the loss of a son or daughter in a conflict zone wants is a phone call from a twenty-something footballer who just didn’t really fancy taking on the extra pressure and scrutiny of playing for his national side.
That conversation might go a bit like this, in fact:
“Hiya, yeah. It’s… It’s er Ben Foster. Ian Wright gave me your number. Is that bagpipes?! Oh god. The funeral is today? I’ll call back”
— Daniel Sandison (@DanielSandison) June 23, 2014
Anyway, why would this family even care? Somehow, Wright has pulled off the tricky manoeuvre of writing something both nonsensical and offensive. Give the man a trophy.
Content from our partners
Related
