Shamed darts star Eric Bristow demanded £5,000 to appear on BBC to explain child sex abuse slurs

DARTS legend Eric Bristow demanded £5,000 to go on the BBC to explain his shameful comments on the child sex abuse case that is rocking football.

The former arrows ace was yesterday sacked by Sky Sports for suggesting footballers who had been sexually assaulted by their coaches were “wimps” and “not proper men” because they didn’t “sort out” their abusers later in life.

Desperate to save face and his TV career, Bristow approached a number of TV companies, cheekily demanding £5,000 to go on and explain his comments.

However, BBC bosses told him they were not willing to pay to host him.

So instead the five-times world champion went into ITV’s Good Morning Britain where he was hammered during a painful live interview with hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid.

Bristow has since vowed to donate any money made in interviews to a relevant charity.

A BBC source said: “Bristow wanted to explain his shocking comments, and salvage what little career he still has, yet wanted paying by us to do so.

“He was asking for a huge amount of money, and we felt it was not right to pay such a sum.

“He was meant to be apologising. So not only did we feel it not right to pay for an interview concerning child sex abuse, why should he be paid to help save his career?”

Bristow landed himself in trouble on Monday evening after posting the controversial tweets.

In a series of messages on Twitter, he said: “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 p**f out.”

He later clarified: “Sorry meant paedo not poof”.

“Dart players tough guys footballers wimps,” he went on. “U got to sought him out when u get older or dont look in the mirror glad i am a dart player proper men,” he wrote.

“Trouble is nowadays u cant tell the truth what do u feel out there tweet me.

“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 soon found himself under attack from Twitter users who claimed he “must be drunk” and would regret his posts “when he sobered up”.

Others accused the sporting hero of being “homophobic”, “out of touch”,  “embarrassing” and a “disgrace”.

One even called for him to be stripped of his MBE.

Sky confirmed the following day that Bristow would not be used on the broadcaster’s darts coverage again, and he was dropped from an event at Newcastle United Football Club.

Newcastle swiftly axed him from their Darts Legends night at St James’ Park next week. He was due to showcase his skills at the Tyneside event on December 6.

Bristow’s comments also led to a huge backlash on social media – including from former Crewe player Steve Walters, who is among those to have come forward, who described them as “#stoneagementality”.

The darts legend this morning apologised on Good Morning Britain for labelling footie sex victims “wimps”.

The five-time world champion, who was made an MBE in 1989, tweeted that victims of the emerging football sex abuse scandal were not “proper men” like “tough guy” darts stars.

When asked on GMB if he wanted to say sorry for labelling victims for sexual abuse as “wimps”, Bristow, 59, replied: “I apologise for it. They’re not wimps, they’ve been sexually abused. It was a miswording – the whole idea was to get youngsters now to go out and complain.”

During the fiery interview, furious GMB host Piers scolded Bristow for calling co-host Susanna Reid “darlin’”.

A mother of three sexually abused victim also labelled the sportsman a “deeply offensive man”.

But Bristow again defended himself in a statement following his TV appearance.

He said: “On GMB I described myself as a bull in a China shop and that has always been the case.

“It makes me furious to think that an abuser can get away with it for so long and to so many when they should always be looking over their shoulder in fear waiting to be confronted.

“I don’t use PR people to run my social account as some do, and now appreciate my wording was wrong and offended many people when all I was doing was venting my anger at the abusers and encouraging kids to act ASAP.

“I know why I’ve been vilified, but if one child comes forward quicker or one abuser thinks twice about the likelihood of being confronted then it will have been worth it.

Eric tweeted on Monday: “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 p**f out.

“U got to sort him out when u get older or don’t look in the mirror glad i am a dart player proper men.”

Several former footballers have waived their right to anonymity to raise awareness of alleged historical abuse in football, a step which has won praise from politicians, sport administrators and abuse charities.

Former Crewe Alexandra coach Barry Bennell is facing sex abuse charges.

An NSPCC hotline has now received over 100 calls related to such abuse.

A “significant” number of other alleged victims of abuse are likely to come forward and other sporting governing bodies may report similar problems, Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for child protection, has warned.

The FA’s review will assess information the FA had at the time of the abuse, which football clubs were aware and whether sufficient action was taken.

The footballing body say a “wide-ranging inquiry may be required in time” but added it is supporting police with their investigations and “must ensure we do not do anything to interfere with or jeopardise the criminal process”.

Crewe Alexandra has also launched its own probe into the allegations.

Bennell is in hospital following a suspected suicide attempt.

It emerged on Monday that police officers and paramedics were called to a “fear for welfare” incident at a hotel found him unconscious.

At least eight police forces are now investigating allegations of historical sexual abuse.

The BBC today confirmed Bristow’s request for £5,000.

When asked if Bristow was paid by for his GMB interview, an ITV spokesman said: “We don’t comment on guest contracts.”

Bristow added: “Any monies offered or received for any interviews with me will be donated in full to a relevant charity.”

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