Six Premier League legends AXED from Hall of Fame shortlist amid controversies as new group is announced
THE PREMIER LEAGUE has AXED six nominees from this year’s Hall of Fame shortlist.
It comes as a smaller group of nominees has been announced for 2023 after all six of the Prem icons were on a larger shortlist last year.
PAMatt Le Tissier has been taken out of the shortlist of nominees for the Premier League Hall of Fame[/caption]
AFPPatrice Evra has also been taken off of the nominee’s list[/caption]
This year’s shortlist sees 15 stars nominated, down from the 25 nominees in 2022.
The names cut from the list are Matt Le Tissier, Patrice Evra, Teddy Sheringham, Edwin van der Sar, Robin van Persie and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Southampton legend Le Tissier was cut after coming under fire for his controversial views relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, vaccines and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Le Tissier, who was axed as a pundit by Sky Sports in 2020, claimed PCR tests were “the biggest fraud ever perpetuated on mankind”.
He also said images of destruction in Ukraine were “falsified” and reposted a Tweet claiming the media had “lied” about a number of stories.
Ex-Manchester United star Evra was taken off the list after being convicted in a Paris court over his use of homophobic language online.
Following a game between United and Paris-Saint Germain in 2019, Evra posted a clip online of him saying: “Paris, you are queers, you are queers.”
Stop Homophobia and Mousse launched a complaint in March 2019, with the 41-year-old landing a fine of £890 and being ordered to pay £1780 compensation to two anti-hate campaign groups.
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
After the conviction in February, Evra said: “I have so much to learn.”
The Premier League has said the number of inductees can change from season to season.
And due to there being three inductees rather than the six seen in previous years, the size of the list has subsequently been adjusted.
Two newcomers have joined the list in the absence of the six previous nominees.
Ex-Man Utd and Tottenham midfielder Michael Carrick has been joined by ex-Spurs and Sunderland ace Jermain Defoe in this year’s list.
The Hall of Fame began in 2021 and has seen 16 players inducted into it so far.
Legendary managers Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger became the first managers inducted into the list earlier this week.
PREMIER LEAGUEThe 2023 Hall of Fame nominees[/caption]
