THE goalkeeper Mr Bruce Grobbelaar, accused of being part of a match-fixing plot, told reporters in a recorded confrontation that he had "never tried to throw a game" in his life, Winchester Crown Court has heard.
The trial jury yesterday saw the video recording of the former Liverpool and Southampton player being approached by journalists at London's Gatwick Airport in November 1994, as he was about to fly to Zimbabwe. The confrontation came after what has been called a "sting" operation against Mr Grobbelaar mounted by his former friend and business associate Mr Christopher Vincent and the Sun newspaper.
Meetings between the two men, during which Mr Grobbelaar allegedly accepted £2,000 from Mr Vincent on behalf of a bogus betting syndicate, were secretly filmed and have been played to the jury.
Mr Grobbelaar is one of four defendants in the match-fixing trial. Counsel for a second defendant, the striker Mr John Fashanu, was told by the Sun's editor, Mr Stuart Higgins, that Mr Fashanu regularly contributed articles to the paper.
Counsel Mr Trevor Burke referred to an article by Mr Fashanu about Mr Eric Cantona, who had been involved in a controversial incident. Mr Higgins agreed, that Mr Fashanu had taken exception to the headline which had gone over the story.
Counsel said that Mr Fashanu had written to the Sun protesting about the way the article had been headlined and saying it had gone way over the top and had done nothing to protect Mr Fashanu's image. Mr Fashanu had said he would have to consider his position if it happened again.
Mr Burke said the Sun replied: "`Dear Fash, I have reconsidered your position for you. You are fired. Yours sincerely, Sports Editor."
There was an appeal and Mr Fashanu was told the "red card" had been withdrawn and his column continued.
The trial continues.