Darts star Eric Bristow loses Sky Sports role after Twitter sex abuse comments
Former Darts champion Eric Bristow has lost his role as a Sky Sports pundit after a series of offensive tweets about the football sex abuse scandal.
Bristow, 59, branded footballers who were victims of abuse "wimps", and suggested they should have gone back and "sorted out" former youth football coach Barry Bennell when they were "older and fitter".
In a series of rambling tweets since deleted, the five-time world champion also used homophobic language and linked homosexuality with paedophilia.
His comments prompted an angry response from other social media users.
One person said his stance was an "absolute disgrace", while another suggested he delete his account.
Bristow was also fiercely criticised by Steve Walters, one of the former footballers who has spoken out about being abused by Bennell, an ex-coach for Crewe and a convicted paedophile.
Walters tweeted that he was "disgusted" with Bristow's comments.
Meanwhile Irish former footballer Steve Heighway said: "Paedos are not gay...they are sexual predators who will attack anyone vulnerable. They didn't talk because of the shame of it."
A spokesman for Sky told ITV News Eric Bristow "was a contributor to our darts coverage in the past but we will not be using him in the future."