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Anthony Devlin
England one-day captain Eoin Morgan was the subject of a recent blackmail attempt.
# Cash
England's Dublin-born cricketer subject to blackmail plot over messages
A “five-figure sum” was demanded to prevent details being revealed about a relationship Morgan had with an Australian woman.
DUBLIN-BORN England one-day captain Eoin Morgan was recently the target of a blackmail attempt by an Australian man, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) revealed in a statement yesterday.
The ECB said it had received an email from the man demanding a “five-figure sum” to prevent him revealing details of a relationship that Morgan had with a woman five years ago to the British and Australian press.
The man says he was in possession of “sexually based” messages relating to the cricketer.
Police
Following discussions with British police, the ECB approached the man, who “admitted and apologised for his actions, blaming jealousy”. The ECB said the man is currently in a relationship with the woman in question.
The man is believed to have sought $52,000 in the blackmail case.
ECB managing director Paul Downton said the issue had been settled.
“We will not allow anyone to disrupt our team’s preparation or performance in the Tri Series and as we build up to the World Cup,” he said.
I am pleased that this issue has now been brought to a swift conclusion. At this point we’d like to thank the Metropolitan Police for their advice, which assisted us in dealing with this in the swiftest possible manner.
England are halfway through a Tri-Series with Australia and India as they build up to the World Cup, which begins Down Under on February 14.
Morgan replaced Alastair Cook as England’s one-day captain in December and scored 121 against Australia last week.
England lost that match, but bounced back to beat India by nine wickets on Tuesday. They face a second game against Australia in Hobart today.
