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Ed Balls says tackle that left opponent bleeding was entirely accidental Ed Balls says tackle that left opponent bleeding was entirely accidental
(about 1 hour later)
Ed Balls has admitted a tackle which left an opponent with a cut eye during the annual football match between Labour and journalists looked awful.Ed Balls has admitted a tackle which left an opponent with a cut eye during the annual football match between Labour and journalists looked awful.
The shadow chancellor also said he had been rebuked by his wife, fellow frontbencher Yvette Cooper, over the clash – but insisted it was entirely accidental.The shadow chancellor also said he had been rebuked by his wife, fellow frontbencher Yvette Cooper, over the clash – but insisted it was entirely accidental.
The incident came as the Labour team were en route to a heavy 3-1 defeat against the lobby team.The incident came as the Labour team were en route to a heavy 3-1 defeat against the lobby team.
Northern Echo correspondent Rob Merrick had to leave the field for medical treatment as blood covered his shirt – although he later returned to win the man-of-the-match award.Northern Echo correspondent Rob Merrick had to leave the field for medical treatment as blood covered his shirt – although he later returned to win the man-of-the-match award.
In a round of broadcast interviews at the Labour party conference in Manchester on Monday morning, Balls told BBC Breakfast: “I think Rob was actually tackling me at the time, but it looks awful.In a round of broadcast interviews at the Labour party conference in Manchester on Monday morning, Balls told BBC Breakfast: “I think Rob was actually tackling me at the time, but it looks awful.
“I’m really sorry about it and I’ve said to Rob I’m really sorry. But he knows it was entirely accidental.“I’m really sorry about it and I’ve said to Rob I’m really sorry. But he knows it was entirely accidental.
“The game went on for a few minutes because nobody saw that it had happened. I’m really glad that he’s feeling better; there’s no hard feelings between us.“The game went on for a few minutes because nobody saw that it had happened. I’m really glad that he’s feeling better; there’s no hard feelings between us.
“This morning when I looked at those pictures, Yvette said to me: ‘What were you up to?”’“This morning when I looked at those pictures, Yvette said to me: ‘What were you up to?”’
On Sky News he stressed that although the images were “obviously hideous” there had been no malice.On Sky News he stressed that although the images were “obviously hideous” there had been no malice.
He added that the referee had given a drop ball rather than awarding a foul – although he conceded the official “might have been a Labour councillor”.He added that the referee had given a drop ball rather than awarding a foul – although he conceded the official “might have been a Labour councillor”.
During a fringe event last night shadow home secretary Cooper joked that Balls’ clash was not helping her drive to be tough on antisocial behaviour. During a fringe event last night shadow home secretary Cooper joked that Balls’s clash was not helping her drive to be tough on antisocial behaviour.