Calacus Weekly Hit & Miss – Peace and Sport & Matt Le Tissier
Every week we look at the best and worst communicators in the sports world from the previous week.
HIT - PEACE AND SPORT
To mark the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on April 6, athletes and organisations across the sporting landscape demonstrated their commitments to peace efforts worldwide by supporting Peace and Sport’s #WhiteCard campaign to promote sport as a solution.
Peace and Sport was founded in 2007 by Olympic medallist and President of the World Olympians Association, Joel Bouzou, with the aim of promoting the consolidation of peace through the power of sport.
Explaining the campaign, Bouzou said: "At a time when risks of division await us, I invite sports and peace actors, political leaders and representatives of the private sector, to raise their #WhiteCard as a sign of support to all peace efforts.
"More than ever, it is necessary to recall the contribution of sport to conflict prevention, conflict resolution and in post-conflict processes."
A reference to the yellow and the red card often used in the sporting world, the White Card invites peace over punishment on April 6, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
With the support of the International Olympic Committee, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace was officially recognised at the United Nations General Assembly in August 2013.
The day is intended to recognise sport’s ability to contribute towards positive social change and Peace and Sport launched the digital campaign to create a global movement to support this.
Notably, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach joined the campaign by raising White Card for peace on the IOC official Twitter account.
Peace and Sport commented on the IOC post, saying: “Peace and Sport and the IOC have a common belief: sport-based initiatives are essential to build a culture of peace. Very honored by the support of IOC President Thomas Bach to the #WhiteCard, the symbol of peace through sport.”
The FIA were also at the forefront of calls for the international sport community to use the celebration to unite people collectively.
In a statement, they said: “In a world charged with geopolitical tensions and armed conflict, April 6 provides the opportunity to demonstrate that sport is a source of stability, education and integration and can foster the construction of inclusive and peaceful societies.
“The FIA is increasingly committed to implementing positive change within motor sport, including the promotion of Equality, Diversity, Inclusion or Youth Empowerment.
“Today, the FIA joins the #WhiteCard digital campaign created by Peace and Sport and reaching millions of people across social media each year.
“We also encourage FIA club members to join the campaign.”
Former Indian Olympic gold medallist, Abhinav Bindra, tweeted: “Sport possesses the power to unite people & build a more inclusive society. On this International Day of Sport for Development & Peace, I’m proud to join the #WhiteCard campaign & urge you all to do the same as we express our belief in sport as a symbol of togetherness #IDSDP2022.”
The International Judo Federation also used its platform to call on people to raise the White Card.
In return, Peace and Sport said that: “The renewed commitment of [the International Judo Federation] and its president [Marius Vizer] in the #WhiteCard campaign is a great example of long-term awareness of sport as a tool for peace.”
Meanwhile, national French newspaper L’Equipe highlighted the campaign as one of the many initiatives being organised by Peace and Sport.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) posted a picture of many of the sports stars holding up the White Card, alongside the caption, “#Badminton for peace and development.”
President of the International Canoe Federation, Thomas Konietzko, said: “Today, on behalf of the International Canoe Federation, I'd like to raise the #WhiteCard as a sign of our support to [Peace and Sport].
“More than ever, it is essential to recall the contribution of sport to conflict prevention and resolution, and to post-conflict processes.”
Other notable athletes and organisations to hold up the White Card, included the Mexico National Football Team, the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol, the International Federation of Sport Climbing and the Government of Monaco.
The value of symbolic gestures can often be subject to ridicule.
However, the significance of the sporting world coming together to raise the #WhiteCard on the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace should not be undervalued.
The campaign symbolised a message of unity and solidarity, and highlighted sports ability to promote inclusion, equality, and peace.
MISS – MATT LE TISSIER
As a player, Matt le Tissier was something of an enigma.
Capable of scoring outrageous goals, with an almost perfect penalty record, Le Tissier remained loyal to Southampton even when bigger clubs came circling.
A player ahead of his time, he would probably had earned far more than eight England caps had he played in the modern era; he ended his playing career with 209 goals in 540 games.
A popular pundit on Sky Sports until his departure in 2020, Le Tissier has become a controversial figure online in recent months after questioning the truth about the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an interview earlier this year with Telegraph Sport, Le Tissier said that he had asked Sky whether his departure had "anything to do with my social media posts”.
He says that he was initially told that they had to be "concerned about the reputation of our company”. Sky says that it was part of wider change to the show and nothing else.
Belief in conspiracies has become worryingly common with 13 per cent of Britons believing in them.
Le Tissier made comments last year questioning the efficacy of vaccines, sharing a meme that depicted a dam (labelled “corporate media”) preventing water (labelled “breakthrough cases, adverse effects and deaths”) from flooding into a chasm (labelled “big pharma narrative”) on Twitter.
He then took to Twitter to deny being an anti-vax conspiracy theorist and say he was merely lamenting an absence of informed consent and asking why pharmaceutical companies took no responsibility for any side effects.
His controversial views went further when he tweeted a picture which read: "The people who hid Anne Frank were breaking the law. The people who killed her were following it."
The reference to Anne Frank was in response to laws about wearing a mask, which he objected to - although after a barrage of criticism, he deleted the tweet.
He has continued to question Covid vaccines, most recently on April 5, but questioning whether a massacre in Bucha, Ukraine, had actually taken place has heightened attention on his outrageous views.
Le Tissier had backpedaled after his tweet, saying: “Deleted previous tweet as people as usual missing the point, the point was about the media manipulation but you knew that really.”
But it was the last straw for Southampton, for whom Le Tissier had been an ambassador.
There were reports that they were already concerned about his very public stance on Covid-19 and so it was no surprise when he announced his resignation from the club.
“To all the fans of SFC. I have decided to step aside from my role as an ambassador of SFC. My views are my own and always have been, and it’s important to take this step today to avoid any confusion.
“This does not affect my relationship with and love for my club, and I will always remain a fan and supporter of everything Saints.
“I can, however, see that due to recent events it’s important to separate the work I believe in from my relationship with the club I have supported and played for most of my life.
“Let me make something very clear I do not advocate war in any way shape or form I do not advocate anyone taking lives of others and anyone who commits such acts should be dealt with accordingly, any atrocities leave devastating effects on the families of the victims and us all.”
As a public figure, it is impossible to separate public life from private views when those views are posted regularly on social media.
Whether they like it or not, sports people have a platform which can be used for immense good.
When that opportunity is abused and baseless conspiracies are repeated, it can cost an individual his work, his honorary positions and his reputation.
Regardless of his views, by doubting the facts of real world events or likening global traumas to the holocaust, Le Tissier has made himself a figure of ridicule and shaken the confidence of millions who believe his views carry more weight because of his past on-field endeavours.
It’s vital that individuals with high profiles are responsible about what they say and think about the long-term impact uninformed or conspiratorial opinions may have on the wider public, particularly in times of global distress.