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An apology
I'm not proud to say that I have joined a list of royals, sports and showbiz stars who have been scammed by the News of the World's notorious Fake Sheikh.
The reporter, Mazer Mahmood, who spends his life disguising himself and his team members to entrap celebrities came into my life with an accomplice. They were posing as the London representatives of a Russian investment bank.
I met them a few times because they were plausible and seemed to be offering a good business proposition.
Unbeknown to me, every word spoken was filmed and tape recorded using sophisticated and secret surveillance equipment as part of a News of the World sting operation.
Much of the discussion took place in a relaxed enviroment with drink flowing freely. Like most such conversations therefore, there was a lot of joshing and not everything said was meant seriously.
However, during several hours of conversations, I made passing references to ******* - again something I am definitely NOT proud of.
After spending weeks on my case, the News of the World approached my PR and management team with the tapes and films of their "investigation".
After some heart-searching, I made the following statement further below to the newspaper which they have published in full in today's newspaper and online.
In talking directly to my fans, I would only add that I am deeply sorry if anyone feels let down and I will make sure that nothing like it happens again.
Secondly I just wonder if it really is a proper function of a free Press to have journalists using this sort of underhand deception to get a story which they hope will sell newspapers by knocking someone down.
Over the course of the day I have been in discussions with my family, friends, my management team, my sponsors and charitable partners, and all of those that I have spoken to have given me their full support to get over this and help me deal with some of the issues that have been raised.
Below is the statement that I have made to the News of the World and, again, it comes with my heartfelt apologies to any fans who feel let down by what has been published.
"I very much regret my occasional use of ******* in what have sometimes been the long days since my retirement from the ring.
"I am fully aware of the bad example it sets to other people and particularly to youngsters and I apologise to my family, friends and fans.
"It is not a major problem in my life but it is something which I am actively addressing.
"Many of the other conversations reported to have taken place simply involve men joshing or shooting the breeze over a drink.
"While some statements are either untrue or exagerations I am, naturally, sorry for any embarrassment their publication may cause to entirely blameless third parties
I'm not proud to say that I have joined a list of royals, sports and showbiz stars who have been scammed by the News of the World's notorious Fake Sheikh.
The reporter, Mazer Mahmood, who spends his life disguising himself and his team members to entrap celebrities came into my life with an accomplice. They were posing as the London representatives of a Russian investment bank.
I met them a few times because they were plausible and seemed to be offering a good business proposition.
Unbeknown to me, every word spoken was filmed and tape recorded using sophisticated and secret surveillance equipment as part of a News of the World sting operation.
Much of the discussion took place in a relaxed enviroment with drink flowing freely. Like most such conversations therefore, there was a lot of joshing and not everything said was meant seriously.
However, during several hours of conversations, I made passing references to ******* - again something I am definitely NOT proud of.
After spending weeks on my case, the News of the World approached my PR and management team with the tapes and films of their "investigation".
After some heart-searching, I made the following statement further below to the newspaper which they have published in full in today's newspaper and online.
In talking directly to my fans, I would only add that I am deeply sorry if anyone feels let down and I will make sure that nothing like it happens again.
Secondly I just wonder if it really is a proper function of a free Press to have journalists using this sort of underhand deception to get a story which they hope will sell newspapers by knocking someone down.
Over the course of the day I have been in discussions with my family, friends, my management team, my sponsors and charitable partners, and all of those that I have spoken to have given me their full support to get over this and help me deal with some of the issues that have been raised.
Below is the statement that I have made to the News of the World and, again, it comes with my heartfelt apologies to any fans who feel let down by what has been published.
"I very much regret my occasional use of ******* in what have sometimes been the long days since my retirement from the ring.
"I am fully aware of the bad example it sets to other people and particularly to youngsters and I apologise to my family, friends and fans.
"It is not a major problem in my life but it is something which I am actively addressing.
"Many of the other conversations reported to have taken place simply involve men joshing or shooting the breeze over a drink.
"While some statements are either untrue or exagerations I am, naturally, sorry for any embarrassment their publication may cause to entirely blameless third parties
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