Sports Direct controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2020
Frasers Group apologizes over Sports Direct store-closure actions
Company response
Frasers Group issued a public apology after controversy over its attempt to keep Sports Direct stores open after non-essential retailers were ordered to close. Mike Ashley said the company's communications were poor and its emails to the government were ill-judged and poorly timed.
Company response
Apology — Frasers Group
Mike Ashley has issued a public apology after his spat with the government about trying to keep his Sports Direct chain open when non-essential businesses were ordered to close.
Clarification — Frasers Group
In hindsight, our emails to the government were ill-judged and poorly timed, when they clearly had much greater pressures than ours to deal with. On top of this our communications to our employees and the public on this was poor.
Remediation — Frasers Group
Ashley said the company had since sought to make amends by offering its entire fleet of lorries to help deliver medical equipment and supplies for the NHS and all key workforces across government.
Source excerpt
Mike Ashley has issued a public apology after his spat with the government about trying to keep his Sports Direct chain open when non-essential businesses were ordered to close.
In hindsight, our emails to the government were ill-judged and poorly timed, when they clearly had much greater pressures than ours to deal with. On top of this our communications to our employees and the public on this was poor.
Ashley said the company had since sought to make amends by offering its entire fleet of lorries to help deliver medical equipment and supplies for the NHS and all key workforces across government.
2015
Shirebrook warehouse labor-conditions controversy
A Channel 4 Dispatches investigation alleged harsh working conditions at Sports Direct's Shirebrook warehouse and compared aspects of employment there to sweatshop or Victorian-era conditions. The allegations led to sustained scrutiny of labor practices.