The Guardian’s Chris McGreal (recently singled out in a CST Report on Antisemitic Discourse) recently published a story about a petition signed by some footballers calling for European football’s governing body to cancel Israel’s hosting of a 2013 European competition in response to the Gaza war. (‘Footballers condemn plans to hold U21 European Championship in Israel‘, Guardian, Nov. 30)
However, after a CiF Watch post demonstrated that two of the footballers cited by McGreal as signing the petition - former Chelsea player Didier Drogba and Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye - flatly denied signing it, the Guardian revised McGreal’s piece accordingly, and noted the following on their corrections page.
Well, it looks like the Guardian’s ‘Corrections’ editor will have more work to do, as the Daily Mail is reporting that another footballer cited by McGreal, Chelsea forward Eden Hazard, has also denied signing the petition.
The Daily Mail’s Charles Sale wrote:
“Hazard had not contributed to the petition. His agent John Bico said: ‘Eden never speaks about his political opinions and he certainly never signed anything.’”
You can email Guardian readers’ editor Chris Elliott (reader@guardian.co.uk), and Tweet Chris McGreal (@ChrisMcGreal), to point out the additional error.
Related articles
- Two footballers cited by Chris McGreal as endorsers of anti-Israel petition flatly deny signing it (cifwatch.com)
- Following our post, Guardian corrects Chris McGreal story on footballers’ petition against Israel (cifwatch.com)
- Why any Israeli can be murdered by Palestinian terrorists, as explained by Chris McGreal (cifwatch.com)
- Lies of omission and commission: Chris McGreal’s propaganda from Gaza (cifwatch.com)
- An update on Chris McGreal and that Gaza “sports stadium” (cifwatch.com)
- Chris McGreal lies about Israeli building freeze (cifwatch.com)
The second paragraph is wrong. Kanoute has not denied signing the petition, and appears to have initiated it (if any of this is to be believed). You mean Drogba.
Also, please don’t use tennis terminology in an article about football!!!
Thanks for pointing out my mistake. I just corrected it.
Is that something Al Guardian supports?
http://www.theaugeanstables.com/2012/12/10/notes-from-a-reader-documenting-the-unofficial-sharia-zone-in-tower-hamlets-and-other-london-sites/
A few African-born players, some in Asian clubs now, telling Platini where UEFA should or shouldn’t go. Nuts!
Wasn’t it kanoute himself who falsely claimed these (and other) guys were signatories?
I suggest people don’t request the Guardian change this.
Chelsea, and some supporters (including some prominent lawyers) are already on the case, and are very unhappy that Hazard’s name has been used in this way. If the lie is not corrected, Chelsea would probably sue, which would be a far more damaging to them than just having to print a correction. Be good to see Chris McGreal scurrying for a lawyer too.
PS. I suggest people write to Chelsea instead.
Great idea.
I think I’ve noted this elsewhere but it bears repeating here: the fact that BDS constantly lies about what it’s “achieved” and doesn’t seem to believe that its factual successes are sufficient to establish itself makes it impossible to take it seriously as anything other than a bigoted fringe movement.
Please note that my new email address is metsuyanuk@gmail. Com
Arik