Tom English forced into humiliating climbdown but no apology over Shane Warne claim

Tom English has been forced to delete his Tweet about Celtic and Shane Warne but there was no apology offered by the chief sports writer of BBC Scotland. 

At 11.34pm on Saturday night English returned to his Twitter account to explain that he had been asked to delete his tweet because it had not met BBC editorial standards. 

His Twitter username makes no connection with the broadcaster but employment contracts make it clear that individual comments on social media can be acted on. 

No Celtic fan will be in any doubt about English’s dislike for the club but human decency and common sense tell you to keep your personal feelings to yourself when it comes to anyone dying. 

Even more so when it is a national icon like Shane Warne. Turning the sudden death of a 52-year-old into a opportunity to attack a club for expressing their condolences is about as low as anyone can get. In this sort of instance it is best to keep your thoughts to yourself rather than share across Twitter. 

The BBC has asked me to delete a tweet I posted yesterday about Celtic’s statement on Shane Warne, as it did not meet editorial standards.

— Tom English (@TEnglishSport) March 5, 2022

Warne’s social media content has regularly shown him wearing Celtic kit, as recently as December he was involved in a video conversation with Ange Postecoglou (see link below). Not that anyone needs to justify expressing their sympathy over any death. 

BBC Scotland has an exclusive television highlights and radio commentary contract with the SPFL. One of English’s work colleagues will have exclusive pre and post match interviews with Postecoglou at today’s match against Livingston.