Filed under: Football
Pressure is mounting on Sky TV commentators Andy Gray and Richard Keys in the wake of their much-publicised off-air comments about female match official Sian Massey and West Ham's Karren Brady.Their colleague Andy Burton became embroiled in the affair on Wednesday when it was revealed that he also made disparaging comments about Massey, along with Gray, before the Wolves-Liverpool encounter.
Burton, like Keys and Gray, has been taken off air by Sky. The affair has certainly been one of the most talked-about of this, or many other, seasons with comments pouring forth from within the game and without ...
Burton: "Apparently, a female lino today, bit of a looker."
Gray: "A female linesman?"
Burton: "He (a Sky Sports crew member) says she (Massey) is all right. Now I don't know if I should trust his judgement on that?"
Gray: "No, I wouldn't. I definitely wouldn't ... I can see her from here. (expletive) What do women know about the offside rule?"
- Exchange between Burton and Gray before the Wolves versus Liverpool game.
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"Andy has not been suspended. Andy Burton has been stood down from tomorrow night's Carling Cup match between Birmingham and West Ham." - a Sky spokesman explains Burton's "punishment."
"Andy has not been suspended. Andy Burton has been stood down from tomorrow night's Carling Cup match between Birmingham and West Ham." - a Sky spokesman explains Burton's "punishment."
"The comments reported today are not acceptable. They were not made on air or broadcast in any way but we have spoken to Richard and Andy and told them our views. They have apologised and expressed their regret." - a Sky spokesman issues a half-hearted officlal "apology" from Keys and Gray on Sunday.
"I have spoken directly to both Richard Keys and Andy Gray this morning. It has been made clear to each of them that their comments were totally unacceptable. Those views are inexcusable, entirely inconsistent with our ethos as a business and employer, and will rightly offend many of our customers, our people, and the wider public. They are inexcusable from anyone at Sky, regardless of their role or seniority. We have dealt with this matter by taking immediate disciplinary action. As with any employee it would not be right to go into detail on those proceedings. However, they have been clearly warned about their behaviour and reminded of their responsibilities. In addition, Richard and Andy will not be involved in any way with tonight's live Monday Night Football." -Barney Francis, Managing Director of Sky Sports, issues a slightly more critical official statement on Monday.
"Fronting their hyped intergalactic Sunday showdowns, Richard Keys and Andy Gray are products of modern television's habit of recasting broadcasters as 'personalities', celebrities, players in the great drama on field and screen. With this power, often, comes an arrogance and an inability to size up the world outside the studio." - Sports columnist Paul Hayward in The Guardian.
"This indicates a lack of understanding by individuals who are at the forefront of sports broadcasting, who are revered and respected by many and hints at wider issues about sexism in society." - Lord Ouseley, chair of football's equality and inclusion campaign Kick It Out.
"What really upsets me is the fact only females in our industry are judged by their gender. And that is categorically wrong. I'm genuinely disappointed. It never would have occurred to me that they had those views, whether public or private. It almost makes it worse that they're speaking off air, because they would never have had the brass neck to say it publicly. I have heard it and I don't believe it is just banter." - West Ham vice-chairman Brady.
"Betfair doesn't tolerate sexism, and we expect others who represent our brand to share similar values. We've expressed our disappointment to Andy Gray's representatives about the comments that have been reported in the media over the last 48 hours. At present we have no plans to change the way we work with Andy." - a spokesman for Betfair, whom Gray endorses.
"I never even knew it was a woman. In the second half I was watching the game and I said to Steve Clarke, 'Steve, that's a woman over there.' I don't have a problem with the gender of people officiating at a football match. They've got to know the laws of the game, haven't they?" - Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish.
"I'm all for women refereeing in football, discrimination should not happen in football at all...prehistoric views if you think otherwise. Did anyone see the decision the lineswoman made...top decision." - Rio Ferdinand, via Twitter.
"Andy Gray for Channel 5." Bolton supporters capture the mood of a nation during Sky's broadcast of Monday's game with Chelsea.
"Their views are within the minority - there's been a huge change in the opinions of women within football from grassroots level upwards." - Tracey Crouch, Conservative MP and qualified FA coach.
"Sian was thrust into a news story, but she has been fairly sanguine about the whole thing. She is a level-headed person who has taken this in her stride and now wants to put this behind her." The Sun quotes a "friend" of Massey's describing how she has coped with the controversy.
"We are proud to have some of the world's best match officials, both male and female. Overall, the number of female referees in England (Levels 1-8) stands at 853 and climbing, and all of our female match officials act as fantastic ambassadors for the game. They have our wholehearted and continuing support." - FA statement.
"They clearly think they are experts in all matters football, and you only have to listen to their smug declarations and 'blokey' guffawing to see that 20 years as Sky Sports 'kingpins' has done nothing to help their humility." - former referee Graham Poll in, what else, the Daily Mail.
"Reminiscent of opinions of black players in the 70's.They can't play in winter etc etc. Dinosaur people have dinosaur opinions." - Stan Collymore, via Twitter.
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