Piers Morgan has defended his comments calling out Cricket SA’s decision to demote David Teeger during the U19 World Cup.
Images via X: @piersmorgan/ @proteasofficial
Piers Morgan defends David Teeger stance against ‘double standard’ criticism
Despite backlash, UK journo Piers Morgan has defended his comments calling out Cricket SA’s ‘demotion’ of captain David Teeger.
Piers Morgan has defended his comments calling out Cricket SA’s decision to demote David Teeger during the U19 World Cup.
Images via X: @piersmorgan/ @proteasofficial
Outspoken media personality Piers Morgan has defended his comments calling out Cricket South Africa for “relieving” U19 Jewish captain David Teeger ahead of the World Cup. This, he was accused of promoting “double standards” by Dutch footballer Anwar El Ghazi.
The controversial journalist slammed the SA body after it expressed “safety concerns” following Teeger’s comments relating to the Israel and Gaza conflict last year.
According to a statement issued by CSA, the move was made to reduce the “risk of conflict or violence” amongst protestors at the tournament.
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PIERS MORGAN CALLS OUT CRICKET SA OVER DAVID TEEGER DECISION
In a statement issued on Friday, 12 January, Cricket SA claimed that it had removed David Teeger as captain amid safety concerns ahead of the U19 Cricket World Cup, which kicks off on 19 January.
According to “risk and safety updates,” CSA acknowledged that protests relating to the Israel and Gaza conflict were likely to happen at various venues during the tournament.
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As a result, Teegar – a Jew who has praised Israeli fighters – was essentially removed as captain of the squad.
Last year, the 19-year-old made headlines after his acceptance speech at the Absa Jewish Achiever Rising Star Awards.
He said: “Yes, I’ve been (given) this award, and, yes, I’m now the Rising Star, but the true rising stars are the young soldiers in Israel.”
Teeger’s comments were met with backlash from the public and Pro-Palestine activists. However, he insisted that he made them in his personal capacity.
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David Teeger was also cleared by an independent inquiry – instructed by CSA -which ruled that his comments did not contravene any codes of conduct.
Following CSA’s statement, UK personality Piers Morgan expressed his shock and anger at the news.
He tweeted: “WTF!? Have they sacked him because he’s Jewish? This is shameful moral cowardice by Cricket South Africa”.
‘DOUBLE STANDARDS’ SAYS DUTCH FOOTBALLER
Following his tweet about David Teeger, Dutch footballer Anwar El Ghazi called out Piers Morgan over his stance amid the conflict.
He responded: “Good to see you calling out moral cowardice on matters relating to the Israel and Gaza conflict. I must have missed your post in outrage at the time I was sacked by a German cly for standing up against the killing of innocent children.
He continued: “Or does my religion, like that of the children of Gaza, mean I don’t matter?”
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But Piers was not taking the criticism lying down. He responded: “You were sacked because you refused to recant your endorsement of the genocidal matra ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’, which Hamas uses to promote the eradication of Israel”.
Late last year, El Ghazi’s contract with German club Mainz was terminated after his Pro-Palestine Instagram post made headlines.
He later told German publication Die Welt: “I do not distance myself from what I said. [I] stand for humanity and on the side of the oppressed until the last day I breathe
