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Trevor Sinclair has issued an apology over comments he made after the Queen’s death but it cuts no ice as West Ham fans turn their backs on a former hero in their droves.
Ask any West Ham fan of a certain age to name their favourite Hammers players of the last 30 or 40 years and the name Sinclair would be amongst them.
Sinclair was loved by West Ham fans as a player and played more games for the Hammers than any other club during his career.
He has continued to enjoy a close relationship with West Ham fans in his role as a pundit post retirement.
Sinclair is very vocal in his support for the Hammers on social media.
But he sullied his reputation, perhaps irreparably, with West Ham supporters and wider society with comments in the wake of Her Majesty the Queen’s passing on Thursday.
The world was brought to a standstill when it was confirmed the Queen had passed away aged 96.
While West Ham supporters were paying a stirring tribute to the Queen, replacing a planned minute’s silence with applause and several renditions of God Save The Queen during the midweek European win, Sinclair had taken to Twitter to ask ‘why should black and brown people mourn’.
“Racism was outlawed in England in the 60s and it’s been allowed to thrive so why should black & brown mourn!! #queen,” the 49-year-old former England player wrote in a post on Twitter which he later deleted.
Sinclair – who had the honour of being given the same ‘Tricky Trev’ nickname as the great Sir Trevor Brooking by West Ham fans during a fantastic five-year career in east London – was condemned by many for expressing his opinion in the immediate hours after the Queen’s passing.
His employers talkSPORT responded to the tweet to assure listeners they did not agree with Sinclair’s views and were investigating the matter.
“We have been trying to make contact with Trevor Sinclair following opinions expressed on his Twitter account. talkSPORT does not support those views expressed and is investigating the matter,” a statement from the radio station said.
Trevor Sinclair apology cuts no ice as West Ham fans turn their backs on former hero in droves
talkSPORT later added: “Trevor Sinclair will not be on air while we carry out a thorough investigation into the circumstances and timing of his tweet. While we respect the right of Trevor Sinclair to express his opinion on his personal Twitter account, talkSPORT does not endorse the tweet.”
Sinclair has now apologised for the comments, saying: “My Tweet yesterday was ill timed at a time when the Royal family, and many around the world were grieving for the Queen,” he Tweeted.
“I apologise for any offence caused to those mourning The Queen.”
Sinclair’s apology has cut no ice, though, as West Ham fans turn their backs on a former hero in their droves.
Many felt the apology was forced, half-hearted and insincere. And there were countless responses from West Ham fans voicing their disappointment that one of their favourite all-time players would make such inflammatory and unnecessary comments.
Sinclair is of course entitled to his opinion as we all are. But when that opinion seeks to divide, especially during a time of grieving and loss, it must be called out for what it is.
When West Ham supporters – of whom the Queen was one – were paying their respects to Elizabeth the Great on Thursday night there were also several chants of ‘She’s one of our own’.
Sadly many West Ham fans will no longer feel that way about Sinclair.
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