Umpire speaks on eve of tribunal

Hair admits his life has been 'hell'

Cricinfo staff

October 1, 2007

Darrell Hair: 'If you've got the courage of your convictions you have to make those decisions and I make no apologies' © Getty Images

Speaking on the eve of an employment tribunal in which he will claim racial discrimination by the ICC, Hair told the BBC: "My life has been turned upside down, but I make no apologies.

"Umpires make mistakes but they make honest decisions and make those for the good of the game. I didn't forfeit the Test match. The laws provide for things under certain circumstances and I think it was pretty clear that one team was refusing to play. But if you've got the courage of your convictions you have to make those decisions and I make no apologies.

"But for an umpire to actually go into hiding for various reasons, one of them for security issues, after making a decision on the field is hard to take," he said. "What's become of the game when you can't make a decision without being able to go out at night? It's been pretty much hell, there's no doubt about that."

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