Ryder Cup ‘hijacked by EU’
As rain dominates day one of the Ryder Cup, Channel 4 News speaks to one MEP who claims the competition is being hijacked by the European Union.
It is Team Europe against Team USA. Colin Montgomery versus Corey Pavin. Tiger Woods taking on Ian Poulter.
Two years of golf bragging rights are at stake this weekend.
It is an historic tournament – the first time the competition has been played in Wales. But heavy rain halted play for much of the day, leading the organisers to consider, for the first time ever, extending play into Monday.
That prospect now seems to have been averted, but the wet weather at Celtic Manor is the last thing worrying one British MEP.
UKIP’s Nigel Farage is a keen golfer and told Channel 4 News the competition is being “hijacked” by the European Union: “I love the Ryder Cup, I’ve followed it all my life and of course I’ll be supporting the continent of Europe but I have to confess I’ll be doing so through gritted teeth.
We don’t want the Ryder Cup being hijacked by an increasingly unpopular EU. Nigel Farage
“Whenever I watch the television all I see is that wretched EU flag. What an earth has this got to do with the European Union? What on earth has it got to do with Mr Barroso, the President of the European Commission, claiming ownership of the Ryder Cup as an EU event? It isn’t. Leave us alone.”
Nigel Farage is adamant that the EU flag should not be used to represent the European team: “Let’s have simple map of Europe. That can be the logo. Let’s not forget that people from Switzerland, people from Norway, people from outside the EU but from the continent of Europe can qualify.
“I’ve been to Ryder Cups but I find it very difficult to go along and to see the European Union flag covering the players and covering their golf equipment. That is not what this is about. We don’t want this being hijacked by an increasing unpopular EU.”
Pro-European or anti-American?
Headlines such as “We’re all European this weekend” are to be found in sections of the sporting press today.
Golf fans who would not normally describe themselves as European are happy to support players from Spain and Germany against Tiger Woods and company.
Nigel Farage told Channel 4 News that is to be expected: “I think we’ve been great allies with America on many things but yes there is a great rivalry with America.
“Anybody who has American friends or who works with Americans knows the banter that goes back and forth never stops. Here’s a weekend when we can give vent to that in a fun and completely harmless way.”