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Cape Town - Former Australia fast bowler Geoff Lawson has reportedly found himself the subject of a defamation lawsuit after he alleged that West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels was involved with gangs in Jamaica.
Lawson made the comments on the Big Sports Breakfast radio programme after the World Twenty20 final in April, commenting on Samuels' argument with England's Ben Stokes on the field.
Lawson had said: "He’s tied up with some pretty shady people back in the West Indies, he’s a guy you don't muck around with on or off the field.
"He’s tied up with the gangs there and it goes well beyond cricket."
Lawson is not the only one being taken to court though, as journalist James Matthey at news.com.au is also under fire after he published the quotes, and called Lawson's accusations 'an extra reason not to get on Marlon Samuels’ bad side'.
Samuels said in a statement, as quoted by iriefm.net: "Through this case, I intend not only to defend my integrity and my image as a international cricketer but also the values I have defended all my career.
"I also wish to avoid any public figure from making insulting or false allegations against an athlete using the media, without any evidence or foundation and to go unpunished.
"If I win this case any compensation awarded I will donate some of the proceeds to the Marlon Samuels Society for the Blind in Jamaica."
