Eric Bristow loses Sky Sports role after comments on football abuse story

Bristow sparked outrage and was branded "homophobic" after he commented on the abuse investigations

Five-time world darts champion Eric Bristow will no longer be a part of Sky Sports darts coverage after making controversial comments in relation to the developing story in Britain about abuse in football.

Sky Sports have held talks this morning about the tweets from Eric Bristow, their darts pundit, and "will not be using him in the future."

— Daniel Taylor (@DTathletic) November 29, 2016

Greater Manchester Police have joined the Metropolitan Police and the English FA in investigating the growing scandal, which was sparked when an ex-player spoke out about the abuse he suffered at the hands of convicted paedophile Barry Bennell.

Hampshire, Cheshire and Northumbria police forces are also investigating reports received since former Crewe, Bury and Sheffield United player Andy Woodward became the first to speak out this month about abuse he suffered at the hands of Bennell.

Bristow, 59, sparked outrage and was branded "homophobic" after he commented on the abuse investigations on social media on Monday.

He wrote on Twitter: "Might be a looney but if some football coach was touching me when I was a kid as I got older I would have went back and sorted that poof out."

(a) Footballers bravely speak about childhood abuse they suffered
(b) Thousands of people express solidarity and sympathy
(c) Eric Bristow pic.twitter.com/VEjAvfy1PS

— Jeremy Vine | Here, on Tiktok, Insta & Facebook (@theJeremyVine) November 28, 2016

Ex-Crewe player Steve Walters, who has also made allegations against Bennell, was among those to criticise Bristow.

He tweeted: "Disgusted with Eric Bristows remarks tonight #stoneagementality."

Sky Sports told the Guardian this morning that Bristow no longer had a place in their punditry team.

“He was a contributor to our darts coverage in the past but we will not be using him in the future,” said a Sky spokesperson.

Another Tweet said "bet the rugby boys are ok" - prompting a reply from Brian Moore, the former England hooker who himself was abused as a child.

"I'm not even going to address the many reasons these tweets are wrong. I'll just say ignorance is no excuse for this idiocy," Moore wrote.

Bristow - awarded an MBE in 1989 - received widespread condemnation for his comments, but continued, adding: "Trouble is nowadays you cant tell the truth.

"Everybody that works on tv is frightened to say the truth because they are frightened to lose their job. Life shouldnt be like that.

"U people replying don't twist what i sent out, i tell the truth if u dont like it tough."

Bristow, 59, has since deleted many of the comments, in which the only hint of an apology came with a message that read: "Sorry meant paedo not poof."