Andy Murray has said there is “a good chance” Wimbledon will be disrupted by a Just Stop Oil protest – but warned activists against targeting The Championships.
The two-time Wimbledon champion said while he supports the group’s cause – it could be “dangerous” to invade the courts, because tennis players “obviously have got rackets in their hands”.
Wimbledon, which begins today, is on high alert following the recent targeting of sports events by JSO activists including the Grand National, World Snooker Championships and the Ashes Test match at Lord’s last week where England cricketer Jonny Bairstow tackled a protester and carried him off the pitch.
“I think there is probably a good chance of something happening,” said Murray ahead of the start of the first round on Monday.
“I was talking about it with my family the other day. I don’t know, if somebody ran onto the court and came towards you, what your reaction would be to that because you don’t know who it is or what they are doing or why they are doing it.
“I didn’t see what Jonny Bairstow did, but it could be dangerous. If they would attach themselves to the net or throw something onto the court – they have to be a bit careful going near to tennis players who obviously have got rackets in their hands.”
The British tennis star added: “I agree with the cause – just not always how they go about expressing it. Rather than running on the court, maybe they could do it a different way.”
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It comes as JSO defended causing disruption at a series of events including the recent pitch invasion at Lord’s – warning the climate crisis is an issue “far greater than a cricket game”.
JSO spokesman Dr Grahame Buss told Sky News’ Kay Burley on Monday “no one can avoid the catastrophe that is facing us”, insisting climate change will affect everything including sporting events.
Dr Buss – who previously worked for oil giant Shell for more than 30 years – said the government is failing the public by “not informing us of the severity of the climate crisis”.
When asked if JSO needed a “change of tactics” after the protests were “getting people’s backs up”, Dr Buss replied: “We are not here to be popular, we’re here to make change.
“We need to talk about what’s actually happening, the climate crisis, that’s why we have this common sense demand, no more oil.”
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He insisted there are “plenty of people” who support the group – despite crowds booing when the Ashes Test match was brought to a halt after JSO protesters ran on the pitch and released their trademark orange powder.
Dr Buss said: “What we’re doing is nothing compared to the disruption we are going to see.
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Just Stop Oil ‘not here to be popular’
“I think we are succeeding and we will bring about that change.”
