Geoffrey Boycott responds to Women's Aid criticism of knighthood: "I couldn't give a toss"

Boycott is to become a sir as part of former prime minister Theresa May's farewell honours list, with Women’s Aid co-acting chief executive Adina Clair criticising the decision

Geoffrey Boycott says he “could not give a toss” about the comments made by a senior figure at a major domestic violence charity in relation to his new knighthood.

Boycott is to become a sir as part of former prime minister Theresa May’s farewell honours list, with Women’s Aid co-acting chief executive Adina Clair criticising the decision in the context of the ex-England batsman’s 1998 conviction in a French court for assaulting his then-girlfriend.

Boycott was fined £5,000 and given a three-month suspended sentence but has always denied the charge.

Clair said: “Celebrating a man who was convicted for assaulting his partner sends a dangerous message – that domestic abuse is not taken seriously as a crime.”

Speaking to the Today programme on BBC Radio Four on Tuesday morning, Boycott responded by telling presenter Martha Kearney: “I don’t care a toss about her (Clair), love.

“It’s 25 years ago so you can take your political nature and do whatever you want with it. You want to talk to me about my knighthood, it’s very nice of you to have me, but I couldn’t give a toss.”

Boycott, who made 22 Test centuries and more than 9,000 runs for England across all formats, added: “It’s 25 years ago, love. In a French court. She tried to blackmail me for £1million, I said no because in England, if you pay any money at all, we think ‘hang on, there must be something there’. I’m not paying anything, I’m not sure I’ve actually got a million at the time.

“It’s a court case in France where you’re guilty, which is one reason I don’t vote to remain in Europe. You’re guilty until you’re proved innocent. That’s totally the opposite to England and it’s very difficult to prove your innocence. In another country, another language. And most people in England don’t believe it. I didn’t do it, move on. It’s a cross I have to bear, right or wrong, good or bad. I have to live with it and I do, because I’m clear in my mind and I think most people in England are - that it’s not true.”

Boycott, who was made an OBE in 1980, voiced his thanks to May and “all the people who supported me and care for me throughout my cricketing career”. 

May had previously written to the Cabinet Office during her time as Home Secretary, urging it to bestow the honour on Boycott.

“I’m glad it’s about cricket, because that’s been my passion all my life,” the Yorkshireman said.

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