Geoffrey Boycott Dismisses Criticism on his Knighthood, Says he was Never Guilty

Former English cricketer Geoffrey Boycott has dismissed criticism against him being offered knighthood. The criticism came on the former cricketer for having conferred the award despite having a criminal record.

Boycott, in 1998, was convicted of beating his then-girlfriend Margaret Moore in a French Riviera hotel. He was fined £5,000 and given a three-month suspension, but he has always denied charge.

Co-acting chief executive of the charity Women’s Aid did not take Boycott being awarded knighthood well and 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.”

Asked about the criticism from Women’s Aid by presenter Martha Kearney on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Boycott dismissed the claims.

He responded by saying, “I don’t give a toss about her, love. It was 25 years ago so you can take your political nature and do whatever you want with it.”

“It’s very difficult to prove your innocence in another country, in another language.

“I have to live with it – and I do. I’m clear in my mind, and I think most people in England are, that it’s not true.”