Championship - Norris denies making gesture

Eurosport - Tue, 11 Nov 10:07:00 2008

Ipswich midfielder David Norris has denied making a handcuff gesture in his goal celebrations at the weekend.

2008 Ipswich David Norris - 0

After scoring at Bloomfield Road on Saturday, Norris appeared to make the gesture in support of his jailed former Plymouth team-mate Luke McCormick.

McCormick is serving seven years and four months for causing the deaths of Arron Peak, 10, and his brother Ben, eight, in a car accident when he was under the influence of alcohol earlier this summer on his way home from Norris' wedding.

The boys' mother Amanda Peak has since spoken of the hurt she felt upon seeing Norris' celebration, while Ipswich responded by fining the player and warning him of his future conduct.

Norris has now though claimed his celebration has been misinterpreted and that it was not a handcuff gesture or personal message to McCormick.

"Further to the club statement earlier today I would like to reiterate my wholehearted apology for the upset my goal celebration at Blackpool has caused," read a statement by Norris released on the club's official website.

"I would like to stress that I made no handcuff gesture or personal message to Luke McCormick. I can now see how my actions have been misinterpreted and for that and any distress that this has caused the Peak family I am truly sorry. I would never act so insensitively after such a tragedy.

"When I woke up this morning to the media coverage's interpretation of the celebration, I was obviously very upset. People who know me know I'm a decent family man and I would never do anything intentionally to upset another family.

"I have heard the comments from the Peak family since the club issued a statement and I would like to thank them for their understanding.

"I will be contacting the family in the near future to speak to them personally and I would also like to apologise to Ipswich Town Football Club for the embarrassment caused."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 9 - 28 of 48

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  1. what is it with footballers,do they live on a different planet,this piece of scum should be kicked out of the game forever

    From stumpy67@..., on Mon 10 Nov 5:40PM

  2. who gives a @#$% its just the parents making a fuzz, now they will most probs sue him
    thats y they are making such a fuzz. its up 2 the player how they celebate

    From billie_joe_wanna_be85, on Mon 10 Nov 5:40PM

  3. Ipswich for Gods sake do the decent thing and get rid of this piece of scum. Surely there are some decent people in the club that have children and know how these poor parents feel.

    From Milliemop, on Mon 10 Nov 5:38PM

  4. SCUM

    From PETE, on Mon 10 Nov 5:35PM

  5. WHAT ABOUT ROBBIE KEANES CELEBRATION HAS HE BEEN CRITISIZED ABOUT HIS? DOING A SHOOTING GESTURE. ANY RESPECT TO THE FAMILYS OF THOSE PEOPLE SHOT DEAD. NO I DON'T THINK SO. NORIS HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG. JUST SENDING A MATE A MESSAGE.

    From garyhope@..., on Mon 10 Nov 5:29PM

  6. Hahaha, he's a pretty cool guy for doing that celebration. Anyone agree?

    From Ivan Robotnik, on Mon 10 Nov 5:28PM

  7. time that football got rid of the scum bags

    From Ken A, on Mon 10 Nov 5:16PM

  8. David Norris was only making a gesture to his friend behind bars...he did not commit the crime Luke did and is paying for it now and rightly so.
    How come when you can clearly lip read what some players are saying on t.v they dont get into this much trouble do they.
    Keep it going Chuck, great ex Argyle player held in high regard....
    UP THE GREEN ARMY.

    From paul, on Mon 10 Nov 5:08PM

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    From go to www.premiership.altervista.org, on Mon 10 Nov 4:25PM

  10. where do the sponsers stand

    From S S, on Mon 10 Nov 4:07PM

  11. one thing to say what a @#$%!

    From tadnathan, on Mon 10 Nov 3:58PM

  12. Whether we think what he did was wrong or not, it caused pain to the parents of the dead boys. THAT is the important point here. This footballer should have thought about his actions and how they would be viewed. If he wanted to show solidarity with his friend, he should write him a letter, or better still get a visiting order and go and see him in prison. To get drunk, drive and kill children is indefensible; to think people would not view his gestures as bad taste at the least is stupid.

    From markrose260@..., on Mon 10 Nov 2:58PM

  13. print his address

    From J K, on Mon 10 Nov 2:57PM

  14. Sack this over-paid @#$% NOW and then, when his mate gets out of jail, they can BOTH go on the dole and hang their heads in utter @#$% shame!!! I hope to God neither Norris nor his mate are ever blessed with children!

    Rick Matthews, Birmingham

    From Richard, on Mon 10 Nov 1:45PM

  15. I hate football scum,there is so many pieces of filth,i say boycott football matches.

    From e=mc squared, on Mon 10 Nov 1:17PM

  16. Take Norris and Barton and Gary glitter,and hang them in the village square,i want to see the shiiit run down their legs before they are strung up.

    From e=mc squared, on Mon 10 Nov 1:16PM

  17. Dont all be thick this had nothing to do with what he did but to show that his friend was thinking about him and had not forgotten him, Norris was purely being a good friend alot of ye british idiot just want to see some controversy and see somebody get into trouble, jesus no wonder all the foreigners hate managing your countries they cant do anything without some little scumbag reporter or fan snooping about there personal business....Norris did nothing worng but im sure ye will all twist it to look like he did and im sure the tabloids will help ye and im sure he will get an unjust punishment for trying to make a friend feel a little better

    From Daryel, on Mon 10 Nov 12:07PM

  18. You have read me wrong at 4 everybody. I wrote 3 notes to say how disgusting it was that this Norris person had disrespected the parents of these two lovely boys and that his drunken mate should have received life for their murder. I also commented on the attitude of those in public life who believe they are untouchable. My messages were stated as invalid and it annoyed me when this is a serious matter and the ha ha up the reds etc are allowed through on other sites. I was being sarcastic when I said also that some football fans would want to support these dickheads as careers will be lost. I really could not care less about Norris and Mc Cormick believe me. Sooner Norris's career is over the better

    From taff, on Mon 10 Nov 11:58AM

  19. he should be carpeted by the FA and face a heavy fine and at least a 12 game ban for bringing the game into disrepute. its disgracefull and i have nothing but contempt at his celebrations and the player is a disgrace. maybe he should face a police investigation for this incident as well, and i hope someone reports this

    From byron.rodriguez@..., on Mon 10 Nov 11:47AM

  20. NORRIS IS SCUM..RIP THOSE POOR BOYS

    From Tony, on Mon 10 Nov 11:41AM
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