• England

Pietersen wins libel payout over Specsavers ad

ESPN staff
October 8, 2013
Kevin Pietersen denies the "serious and defamatory allegation" he tampered with his bat during the Ashes © PA Photos
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Kevin Pietersen has accepted substantial libel damages from opticians Specsavers over an advert which suggested he tampered with his bat during the Ashes.

Pietersen brought action in London's High Court against the "serious and defamatory allegation" after the advert was published on Specsavers' social media accounts as well as in newspapers and magazines.

The advert carried the statement "'Bat tampering' in the #Ashes? Apparently Hot Spot should've gone to Specsavers", which was accompanied by a picture of Pietersen.

Pietersen was left outraged in August after Australian network Channel 9 used images of his dismissal in the third Ashes Test in a report suggesting players were using silicone tape on their bats to prevent edges appearing on Hot Spot. The ECB vowed to take immediate legal action.

The batsman's solicitor told the court the allegation of bat tampering had no foundation.

Specsavers Optical Group Ltd - who apologised over the incident last week - accepted Pietersen did not behave as they had suggested, and said they had already removed the advert from circulation.

Pietersen revealed on Twitter that he will be donating all of the money to a cancer charity.

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