Luggy Apologies After Controversial Comments

Dundee United legend, Paul Sturrock today apologised for comments he made on Saturday as he referred to Dundee Football Club as “scumdee b******s”. The comments were made half an hour after the game as Luggy came out with a microphone and addressed the Dundee United fans. A fan recorded the incident at Home Park on his mobile phone and later posted it on YouTube which sparked anger from Dundee fans and well wishers from the city. This comes just a week after Luggy revealed he has been suffering from Parkinson’s disease – the club and fans sent their best wishes during the week and were shocked at this unprofessional public comment.

Dundee fans contacted the local papers and Plymouth Argyle Football Club about the incident and it was a leading story in The Courier and The Evening Telegraph and also featured on the local news. Dundee Chief Executive Dave MacKinnon demanded an apology and was happy to close the matter when the Dundee United legend made a public apology. MacKinnon told the Evening Telegraph, “His words were inappropriate, and when I heard what he’d said my reaction was that I’d hoped he’d be man enough to apologise. He has done that now – and that should be an end to the matter and we can all move on.”

Paul Sturrock issued a statement which read, “My remarks were entirely tongue in cheek. If I have offended anyone then I apologise but it was just banter, the sort of thing I’ve been on the receiving end of for the last 25 years whenever I’ve been out on the town in Dundee. I have no ill feeling whatsoever towards Dundee fans and was deeply touched by the kind messages I received from them last week when I revealed I was suffering from Parkinson’s disease.”

As Sturrock said, it was just a bit of banter and Dundee fans (myself included) have dished it out to him in the past. Some fans took the comments a bit too far in my opinion some even wishing him harm which is unacceptable. I don’t think it is the sort of thing he should be saying in public – he has apologised and we should move on from this. While I’m on the topic, I wish Luggy all the best in his battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Article written by Marc Day.