‘My name is Lou Vincent and I’m a cheat’
2 July 2014 5:33 AM IST
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Tuesday that former New Zealand cricketer, Lou Vincent, has been banned for life for his involvement in match-fixing. Vincent admitted he breached the ECB’s anti-corruption regulations and he pleaded guilty to 18 charges of breach of regulation. The ECB tweeted: ‘Lou Vincent banned from cricket for life after he admitted breaching the ECB’s anti-corruption regulations.
Earlier on Tuesday, Vincent offered his deepest apologies for shaming the game and his country, saying that he will regret his actions for the rest of his life. ‘My name is Lou Vincent and I am a cheat. I have abused my position as a professional sportsman on a number of occasions by choosing to accept money in fixing,’ Vincent said in an emotional statement.
‘I have lived with this dark secret for so many years, but months ago I reached the point where I decided I had to come forward and tell the truth. It’s a truth that has rightly caused uproar and controversy in New Zealand and around the world. I have shamed my country, I have shamed my sport, I have shamed those close to me. And for that, I am not proud,’ he added.
‘I lost faith in myself, in the game, I abused the game I loved. I had to put things right. Speaking out, exposing the truth, laying bare the things I have done wrong, is the only way I could find to begin to put things right,’ said the 35-year-old, who played 23 Tests for his country. The former opener said he could muster the courage to speak the truth only after being inspired by his wife.
‘The time has come for me now to face them like a man and accept the consequences, whatever they may be. I could not live with my wrongdoings any longer and after meeting my future wife Susie, after learning what unconditional love really is, I felt strong enough to tell her what I’d done and she has helped me take the painful steps in telling my parents, my wider family and then the authorities,’ he said.
Vincent in his statement further said that now he can look up to his children having admitted to his crime. ‘I am proud of the ones I love, especially my immediate family and friends. Their strength, support and forgiveness has enabled me to address some of the deepest, most uncomfortable issues one can face. I can finally look my children in the eyes and tell them that honesty is the best policy - even if it feels like the hardest thing to do at times. I now believe in myself as a person again and I don’t wake up every morning hating myself. Today is the day I offer my deepest, deepest apologies to the public and the cricketing world, to the loyal fans, to the dedicated coaches, staff, players past and present.’
London: England all-rounder Stuart Broad called for all those found guilty of match-fixing to be given the same lifetime ban as handed down to former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent. His former Sussex team mate, Naveed Arif, was also banned for life last month after admitting similar corruption offences.
‘There’s no excuse for naivety any more so I don’t really see why it wouldn’t be a flat out life ban,’ said Broad, the son of former England opener turned ICC match referee Chris Broad. ‘That would scare a lot of people out of it, I’d hope. A five-year ban, a 10-year ban? I’d pretty much make it a flat-out lifetime ban if I was in control. But I’m not,’ he added.
Former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri, speaking alongside Broad, said he hoped his country would follow the example in changing the law to make fixing a criminal offence. ‘What India is pushing for in our country is to put something in the constitution that allows criminal prosecution,’ Shastri said. agencies
Earlier on Tuesday, Vincent offered his deepest apologies for shaming the game and his country, saying that he will regret his actions for the rest of his life. ‘My name is Lou Vincent and I am a cheat. I have abused my position as a professional sportsman on a number of occasions by choosing to accept money in fixing,’ Vincent said in an emotional statement.
‘I have lived with this dark secret for so many years, but months ago I reached the point where I decided I had to come forward and tell the truth. It’s a truth that has rightly caused uproar and controversy in New Zealand and around the world. I have shamed my country, I have shamed my sport, I have shamed those close to me. And for that, I am not proud,’ he added.
‘I lost faith in myself, in the game, I abused the game I loved. I had to put things right. Speaking out, exposing the truth, laying bare the things I have done wrong, is the only way I could find to begin to put things right,’ said the 35-year-old, who played 23 Tests for his country. The former opener said he could muster the courage to speak the truth only after being inspired by his wife.
‘The time has come for me now to face them like a man and accept the consequences, whatever they may be. I could not live with my wrongdoings any longer and after meeting my future wife Susie, after learning what unconditional love really is, I felt strong enough to tell her what I’d done and she has helped me take the painful steps in telling my parents, my wider family and then the authorities,’ he said.
Vincent in his statement further said that now he can look up to his children having admitted to his crime. ‘I am proud of the ones I love, especially my immediate family and friends. Their strength, support and forgiveness has enabled me to address some of the deepest, most uncomfortable issues one can face. I can finally look my children in the eyes and tell them that honesty is the best policy - even if it feels like the hardest thing to do at times. I now believe in myself as a person again and I don’t wake up every morning hating myself. Today is the day I offer my deepest, deepest apologies to the public and the cricketing world, to the loyal fans, to the dedicated coaches, staff, players past and present.’
London: England all-rounder Stuart Broad called for all those found guilty of match-fixing to be given the same lifetime ban as handed down to former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent. His former Sussex team mate, Naveed Arif, was also banned for life last month after admitting similar corruption offences.
‘There’s no excuse for naivety any more so I don’t really see why it wouldn’t be a flat out life ban,’ said Broad, the son of former England opener turned ICC match referee Chris Broad. ‘That would scare a lot of people out of it, I’d hope. A five-year ban, a 10-year ban? I’d pretty much make it a flat-out lifetime ban if I was in control. But I’m not,’ he added.
Former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri, speaking alongside Broad, said he hoped his country would follow the example in changing the law to make fixing a criminal offence. ‘What India is pushing for in our country is to put something in the constitution that allows criminal prosecution,’ Shastri said. agencies
Next Story
