sport news JONATHAN McEVOY: Portraying himself as the victim is not a good look for ... trends now
It might have been easier for Christian Horner to play the ‘leave my family alone’ card if he had not paraded through the Bahrain paddock last week hand-in-hand with his wife, Geri, for all the world and its photographers to witness.
This whole grubby affair has been an unedifying spectacle for all those close to it to observe, just as it has been riveting for those who have absorbed it vicariously through newsprint, with story after staggering revelation for weeks on end.
The latest twist came on Thursday when the woman in the eye of the storm, an unnamed female colleague of Horner at Red Bull, was suspended from her job in the Milton Keynes factory, albeit on full pay.
In a sport that talks about diversity almost as much as tyres this was hardly an advert for inclusivity. Remember that when accusations of inappropriate behaviour were made against Horner he stayed in post, talking of ‘business as normal’.
It was nothing of the sort, of course, but the fact he remained at the helm ran against the natural order of such procedures that usually involve the accused stepping down as an investigation is pursued.
Christian Horner claimed that the 'sex texts' scandal has been 'very trying' on his family
Horner's wife Geri Halliwell was present in Bahrain as she showed solidarity with her husband
The Red Bull boss has so far resisted calls for him to resign from the position he has held since 2005
It should be noted, however, that the internal inquiry, headed by a KC, found the 50-year-old husband of a former Spice Girl innocent of charges of coercive behaviour. He was permitted to carry on after a process that took two months, 60 hours of interviews and 150 pages.
Still, to a wider public this is an excruciatingly bad look — man does not resign, man is cleared, woman is marginalised.
Now, there are some major caveats to insert at this point. According to Horner supporters, the woman’s evidence was misleading and inaccurate, perhaps even dishonest. These assertions are unsubstantiated, but may turn out to be true and a final verdict on the fairness of her suspension must wait.
