Cricket star Stuart MacGill JOKES about his kidnapping ordeal, saying ‘you can’t choose your family’ after his de facto brother-in-law was charged with kidnapping
- The former spinner was allegedly kidnapped in 2021
- They allegedly put him in the trunk of a car.
- Jokes Made Despite Ongoing Court Case
Former Australian Test cricket star Stuart MacGill joked about his alleged kidnapping on a podcast where he mockingly threatened to put one of the hosts in the boot of his car.
MacGill is involved in an ongoing court case after he was allegedly kidnapped by six men, including his de facto brother-in-law, Marino Sotiropoulos, on April 14, 2021.
Frederick Schaaf, Richard Schaaf, Elijah Schaaf, Son Minh Nguyen and Vaeluagaomatagi Feilo were also arrested and charged in an alleged incident that police described as a failed cocaine deal.
MacGill had previously told police he was forced into the boot of a car in Cremorne, on Sydney’s north shore, before his assailants tried to extort money from him.
While court proceedings are ongoing, MacGill played down the allegations in an appearance with The Professor and Barney on his podcast. 82 days to ashes.
Former Australian cricketer Stuart MacGill joked about his alleged kidnapping
The former spinner pulled the prank at his own expense on the 82 Days Till The Ashes video podcast, where he mockingly threatened to put one of the hosts in the trunk of his car.
At the start of the podcast, James ‘The Professor’ Rochford asked: ‘How did you go from being the ninth best leg-spinner in cricket history to finishing in a boot? [of a car]?’
McGill replied, “You don’t get to choose your friends or your family, which is why I’m here with SOK.” [former Test cricket player Steven O’Keefe]. Unfortunately, let’s just say that if given the opportunity to choose, I probably wouldn’t choose the same thing.’
While the rest of the podcast largely focused on cricket, the topic came up again when the panel began discussing the time Australia played three spinners on the SCG: Shane Warne, MacGill and Colin ‘Funky’ Miller.
Co-host Andrew ‘Barney’ Barnett asked: ‘What were the selectors thinking? Were they like, Colin Miller, do we need another weirdo on this team?’
That filled MacGill with mock indignation and he replied: ‘That’s very, very disgusting. You can laugh all you want, but I hope it’s a nervous laugh because I’ll see you after this show.
The professor added, ‘You know what that means.’
“I only have a hatchback,” Barney said.
“When I say I’m going to put you in the fucking boot, I mean it,” MacGill replied as the panel laughed.
MacGill arrives at Sydney Downing Center Local Court in Sydney January 30 for a hearing into her alleged kidnapping by six men, including her de facto brother-in-law, in 2021.
MacGill celebrates towards Barmy Army after capturing the wicket of Michael Vaughan during day four of the Ashes Fourth Test between Australia and England in 2002
MacGill previously made a police statement saying he received repeated blows to the head and sustained a concussion during the alleged incident, but the court heard in 2022 that there was no medical evidence to support those claims.
The defendants were granted probationary bail at the High Court in August 2022 and a trial at the District Court in Sydney was set for 23 October 2023.
MacGill played 44 Tests for Australia, taking 208 wickets. He also appeared in three one-day internationals, picking up six wickets.
He is widely regarded as the second best Test leg bowler behind the great Shane Warne and would have played far more international cricket had he been born in a different era.
The first Test of the Ashes begins on June 21 at Edgbaston. Australia drew the series against England the last time they traveled to the Old Dart for The Ashes, but they haven’t won the series in England since 2001.