Airline hits back at Sangakkara’s claims of mistreatment during visa checks.
Dubai: Ryanair has issued a response after former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara accused the airline’s gate staff of discriminatory and threatening behaviour towards him and his family at Dublin Airport.
The airline disputed Sangakkara’s account, claiming he initially refused to provide the required visa documents during routine immigration checks.
“This passenger refused to provide the required visa documentation when requested by a gate agent carrying out mandatory immigration checks,” Ryanair said in a statement, according to The Mirror.
The airline said Sangakkara was eventually cleared to travel once the checks had been completed.
“Following completion of these checks and verification of this passenger’s eligibility to travel, this passenger travelled on this scheduled flight from Dublin to Bristol (28 Oct),” the statement added.
Sangakkara had raised the incident on social media platform X on Wednesday, describing his experience with the airline’s staff as shocking and unacceptable.
“Has anyone experienced discriminatory gate personnel @Ryanair in Dublin? I just did, with my family, and it was shocking. The tone of address, the mishandling of procedure and the threatening behaviour,” he wrote.
The 48-year-old also replied to Sri Lankan businessman Sanjiva Weerawarana, who had shared his own experiences of discrimination while living and travelling overseas.
“It is quite jarring when you experience it,” Sangakkara responded.
Widely regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketers, Sangakkara played 134 Tests, 404 ODIs and 56 T20Is, amassing 28,016 international runs.
Following his retirement in 2015, he moved into commentary and coaching. He is currently the head coach and director of cricket at IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals.
