Panafrican News Agency

South African football legend snared by racist tweet

Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – Football legend Mark Fish is on the ropes following a storm of criticism he received for wading into the Black Lives Matter campaign.

The former national defender who also represented Orlando Pirates, Bolton Wanderers and Lazio, came under fire for liking a racist tweet that labelled South Africa’s national rugby captain Siya Kolisi an affirmative action appointment.

When asked why he liked the controversial tweet, the former Bafana Bafana defender responded by saying: “All Lives Matter...”

Rapper Nyovest called Fish “stupid: “Educate yourself and stop tarnishing your legacy. You are one of the most loved football legends and you decide to be so reckless,” he tweeted.

The Sunday Times awarded Fish its “Mampara (fool) of the Week” for “endorsing the sentiment of a racist who spewed his racism on a player hailed across the world after leading the Springboks to victory in the most recent Rugby World Cup. Realising that he had been hooked, Fish apologised.”

Fish who is now a technical advisor for the national squad, captained Orlando Pirates when they beat JS Kabylie in the 1996 CAF Super Cup. In the same year he was part of the history represented the South African national team which won the African Cup of Nations in 1996.

-0- PANA CU/AR 27July2020