Benni McCarthy opens up about being fat-shamed in Premier League

by Zaghrah Anthony

From Cape Flats to Premier League scrutiny

Benni McCarthy’s journey from Hanover Park to global football stardom is the stuff of South African sporting legend. But in his new memoir, Benni, he opens up about a side of his career that rarely makes headlines: the personal attacks, public fat-shaming, and media scrutiny he endured while playing at the top.

The retired striker, who featured for clubs including Ajax Amsterdam, Celta Vigo, Porto, Blackburn Rovers, and West Ham United, details the highs of lifting trophies and representing Bafana Bafana and the lows of being judged for his weight.

The “super size” moment

In 2010, after signing with West Ham United, a torn knee ligament left Benni sidelined and out of training. The once-athletic forward quickly found himself a few kilos heavier than his usual 80kg, coinciding with the club’s fight against relegation.

West Ham management and media were quick to pounce. Karren Brady, vice-chairperson of West Ham at the time, wrote a notorious column in The Sun, mocking McCarthy as “super size” rather than the striker fans had expected.

Benni recalls in his book:

“A lot of hurtful, frankly unnecessary stuff… I called her ‘the devil with t*ts’ in response, which made headlines, but it also cost me about £100,000 because of my contract clause preventing disparaging remarks about the club.”

Even as he battled injuries, Benni faced the double blow of public scrutiny and professional fines for the weight he had gained while recovering.

South African media and club clashes

Returning home in 2011 didn’t shield him from criticism. Kaizer Chiefs manager Bobby Motaung famously quipped that the club signs “big fishes, not fishes who cannot swim anymore” when McCarthy joined the squad at 33. Far from being deterred, Benni used the insult as fuel.

He signed with Orlando Pirates instead and enjoyed a string of memorable derby wins against Chiefs, later recounting:

“As long as I’m playing for Pirates, Chiefs are never going to beat us. You said an old fish can’t swim, I’ll show you.”

Even at Pirates, coaches would refer to him as the “fat guy,” a label he says always stung:

“That’s no joke for me. There should always be a level of respect between people in the game.”

 

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Memoir reveals resilience behind the headlines

Benni is more than a collection of anecdotes; it’s a candid reflection on navigating professional sport under intense scrutiny. The memoir also touches on his fraught relationship with SAFA, his time at Bafana Bafana, and the pressures of maintaining peak form while abroad.

Through it all, Benni’s story is a reminder that athletes are human: subject to criticism, mistakes, and recovery, yet capable of using adversity as motivation.

“Maybe it was a quip, but that kind of talk always gets my blood boiling… the first thing I think of then is ‘I’ll show you who is a has-been and who is not.’”

A career remembered for more than headlines

Benni McCarthy retired from professional football in 2013 after 17 years, leaving behind a legacy of goals, trophies, and resilience. His memoir offers fans a deeper understanding of the battles behind the pitch—injuries, fat-shaming, and the constant weight of expectation.

From Hanover Park to Premier League scrutiny, McCarthy’s journey proves that while talent opens doors, perseverance defines the story.

Source: The South African

Featured Image: X{@iDiskiTimes}