Kevin Pietersen Secures Significant Libel Damages from Specsavers

Specsavers have paid England cricketer Kevin Pietersen substantial libel damages after one of their adverts implied he had tampered with his bat during the Ashes this summer.

Pietersen took the case to the High Court in London, saying the optician group had made a “serious and defamatory allegation.”

During the Ashes tournament, reports from Australia’s Channel 9 news show claimed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) were investigating claims that players were using tape to trick the Hot Spot technology, which can see whether the batsman had edged the ball.

Channel 9 have since apologised after their report was ridiculed, but Specsavers published an advert on their social media channels which read: “Bat tampering’ in the #Ashes? Apparently Hot Spot should’ve gone to Specsavers,” complete with a picture of Pietersen.

Specsavers have now apologised, removed the advert from circulation and agreed to pay Pietersen substantial but undisclosed damages.

Their statement read: “During the 2013 Ashes series we published a ‘Should’ve Gone to Specsavers’ advert which suggested that Kevin Pietersen may have tampered with his bat in an attempt to prevent Hot Spot technology working.

“We did not intend to imply this suggestion.

“We accept that this allegation is untrue and that Kevin Pietersen did not tamper with his bat. We apologise unreservedly for any distress and embarrassment our advert has caused to Kevin Pietersen. We have removed the advert from circulation.”