Kaveh Solhekol has admitted a Sky Sports reporter broke an unwritten rule to trick West Ham star Declan Rice into recent controversial comments.
Rice caused a stir by using an England World Cup press conference to discuss his ambitions at club level.
Hammers captain Rice effectively told the world he fully intends to leave West Ham in pursuit of Champions League football and competing for the top trophies.
Rice had already made it clear in several interviews and with his actions that he intends to leave to play for an elite club competing at that level.
The West Ham captain has thus far refused to sign a new contract after being offered in excess of £200k per week – and £83m over the course of the proposed deal.
Rice has been heavily criticised by West Ham fans – and some pundits – for his comments in the press conference, which were very much seen as a ‘come and get me’ plea.
Some supporters on social media even called for Rice to be stripped of the West Ham captaincy as a result.
Many felt, understandably, that there is a time and a place for Rice to discuss his club ambitions and future and that an England press conference before a World Cup knockout game was not it.
Supporters believe he should have batted the question away and moved the conversation back to England.
Now Kaveh Solhekol has admitted that a Sky Sports reporter broke an unwritten rule to trick West Ham star Rice into the controversial comments.
If fans thought it was unusual to hear Rice answering questions on his aims and future at club level in an England presser, that’s because it was.
Sky Sports’ chief reporter Solhekol says one of his colleagues “cleverly” broke an unwritten code of conduct in England press conferences to lure Rice into the statements he made.
“There’s a little bit of an unwritten rule in these press conferences with England where journalists are not really supposed to ask questions about club matters,” Solhekol said on Sky Sports.
“However, one of my colleagues asked a very clever question that got Declan Rice to talk about his future.
“Effectively, he’s got two years left on his contract at West Ham this summer and, so far, all the indications have been that he’s not going to sign a new contract. You would think next summer would be the optimum time for West Ham to sell him, otherwise his value will start coming down.
“There’s a general feeling he will leave West Ham this summer, although of course they don’t have to sell him. If he was to go, I think he would cost somewhere around £100m.
“The clubs who would be interested? We’re talking about Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City, and possibly lots of other clubs as well.”
The reporter will argue he was doing his job and it certainly made headlines.
But it all feels a bit underhanded. However, should we be surprised? It seems the likes of Sky Sports will not be happy until all the top players are playing for their so-called “Big Six” clubs.
And they will be the first to moan and criticise when the Premier League becomes even more of a closed shop and matches even less competitive.
If it is an unwritten rule not to ask players such things in England press conferences, then it begs the question why are Sky Sports doing it? To what end?
As reported at the weekend, West Ham plan to make a third and final offer worth over £100m, but that too is expected to go unsigned.
MORE WEST HAM NEWS
Kretinsky maxes stake in firm and next step would have to be full buyout.
Bellingham super stardom could be seriously bad news for West Ham owners.
Moyes not surprised by ‘sultry’ Arteta and makes ‘gopher’ claim.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
