‘This is it. My last marathon’: Farah asks activists not to disrupt London farewell

Mo Farah has issued a personal plea to activists not to disrupt his last major race after confirming that he will wind his career down after Sunday’s London Marathon.

Security has been ramped up along the 26.2-mile course after protests at the Grand National and World Snooker Championships, but the 40-year-old wants environmental groups such as Just Stop Oil to remember the money the event generates for good causes before deciding on yet more direct action.

“There are so many people taking part and running for loved ones, raising money for charities, and making a difference to others,” he said when asked whether he had a direct message to potential protesters. “That’s what we have to remember. That’s what the London Marathon is about.”

Farah’s comments came as the World Snooker Tour president, Barry Hearn, announced plans to sue the Just Stop Oil protester Eddie Whittingham for disrupting play at the Crucible on Monday by sprinkling orange powder across the table.

Both Whittingham and Margaret Reid, 52, who was stopped from allegedly trying to take similar action on the adjacent table, have been bailed until June on suspicion of criminal damage.

However Hearn says he is also ready to support fans getting involved in civil claims on a no-win, no-fee basis. “Whether he is on a good cause or bad cause, has nothing to do with it,” he added. “I am going at him for what he did live on TV.

“I sell a million tickets a year across all my sporting events, I cannot stop what this world is turning into, but all I can say is: If you mess around with my events, this is what you can expect. I am not rolling over.”

Meanwhile Farah is hopeful that Sunday’s race will pass without incident, but acknowledged that it would be his last