Sports Direct blasted for ‘taking the p***’ by Jeff Stelling before U-turn on opening stores during coronavirus lockdown

MIKE ASHLEY’S Sports Direct reversed their decision to flout the Government’s coronavirus pandemic lockdown following a huge backlash.

Politicians, sporting figures and shoppers lined up to hammer the sportswear store – before it made an inevitable U-turn and accepted the closure.

Ashley’s Sports Direct was criticised for prioritising money over lives on Monday nightCredit: Reuters

An email circulated around to the 17,000 Fraser Group workers minutes after Boris Johnson confirmed the lockdown asserted that both Sports Direct and Evans Cycles were “uniquely well placed” to satisfy the nation’s demand for fitness gear.

It read: “We stock a huge range of sports equipment designed for exercising at home… indeed home fitness is the number one trending topic on social media after coronavirus itself.

“Against the backdrop of the closure of gyms the demand for these types of products has increased exponentially as the population looks to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“We are uniquely well placed to help keep the UK as fit and healthy as possible during this crisis and thus our Sports Direct and Evans Cycles stores will remain open where possible (in accordance with the Government’s current social distancing guidance).”

That would have meant 491 stores under the two brands remaining open – forcing their workers to come in on Tuesday morning amid the outbreak.

However that decision was reversed on Tuesday morning.

Any non-essential shop kept open during the lockdown will see the owner liable for prosecution.

Thus only stores such as supermarkets, pharmacies, petrol stations, home and hardware shops, post offices, and banks can operate as normal.

But the damage had already been done for Sports Direct as commenters hammered the decision.

Soccer Saturday host Jeff Stelling tweeted: “Seriously tried to stay quiet but for Sports Direct to say they are essential and will stay open is a disgrace. It helps jeopardise all of is.

“I suggest the police should enforce closure if every shop like this and there should be huge penalties against them for taking the p***. Or words to that effect. You get the jist.”

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove said before the U-turn that Newcastle owner Ashley should “back off”.

Gove told GMB: “I can’t see any justification for Sports Direct to stay open.

“My view is that Mike Ashley should rescind what he said, he should back off, the key thing we need to do is for people, wherever possible, to stay at home.

“Yes it’s important for people to exercise but as the prime minister pointed out: That should be done once a day, it’s a basic thing as people can walk, run or cycle – but there is no reason for a store like Sports Direct to remain open.”

And workers’ union the TUC added: “It’s a sports clothing store. Mike Ashley tried to keep them open because he cares more about profit than his staff, his customers or the wider community. This is what putting profit before people looks like.”

Ashley has long been an unpopular figure on Tyneside at the very least for his running of Premier League side Newcastle, failing to satisfy the fans’ demand for success.

And Twitter users made it clear they did not back the decision to keep Sports Direct open while the likes of McDonald’s, Greggs and Nando’s shut – to protect their workers even though technically able to remain in operation.

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Luke tweeted: “Think about the people working there who either haven’t got hours or have to go in while all this is going on.”

Dave wrote: “Why open a store, pay staff and electric when there will be no customers as they are all locked at home, the man is a lunatic.”

Justin commented: “Mike Ashley is a disgrace. To have the tenacity to say Sports Direct staff are “essential workers” must be, even by his low standards, the most disgusting thing he’s done. The British people should boycott his businesses. He has shown his disregard for people’s lives.”

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk