Kumar Sangakkara Alleges Racist Treatment by Ryanair Staff

Cricket icon Kumar Sangakkara has suggested that Ryanair staff exhibited racist behavior during a recent journey through Dublin Airport, escalating a dispute with the budget airline. Sangakkara previously alleged discriminatory and threatening conduct by staff towards him and his family.

Ryanair has stated that Sangakkara refused to provide required visa documentation during the altercation. However, the 49-year-old Sri Lankan countered on social media, detailing an experience he described as far from typical.

Responding to a user who suggested his celebrity status made him unable to recognize equal treatment, Sangakkara elaborated on his encounter. "When told people like you with your kind of passports should expect this treatment and that if we argued against that obviously disgusting comment we would be considered a threat to other passengers and not boarded is not treating everyone exactly the same but it is racist," Sangakkara wrote on X.

Earlier, Sangakkara had alerted followers to the incident, tweeting: "Has anyone experienced discriminatory gate personnel @Ryanair in Dublin? I with my family just did and it was shocking. The tone of address and the mishandling of procedure and threatening behavior. Unacceptable for any passenger. First bad experience in Dublin."

Notable figures, including Piers Morgan, voiced support for Sangakkara. Morgan tweeted: "Rarely met a more decent, dignified man than Kumar. For him to say this, it must have been truly shameful behaviour. I hope you deal with this urgently & properly @Ryanair."

Sangakkara also engaged with Sri Lankan businessman Sanjiva Weerawarana, who shared his own experiences of discrimination abroad. Sangakkara replied to Weerawarana's post, stating, "It is quite jarring when you experience it."

Sangakkara, a former Sri Lanka captain, represented his country in 134 Tests, 404 One Day Internationals, and 56 Twenty20 Internationals, amassing 28,016 international runs. He is third on the all-time international run-scorers list, behind Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.

He currently resides primarily in Dorset, England, having moved there with his family in early 2022. He also maintains a property in Galle, Sri Lanka. Sangakkara, who met his wife Yhali at school, has twin children born in 2009. In addition to his work as a pundit for Sky Sports, Sangakkara serves as head coach and director of cricket for the Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals.