Stubborn Sexist Sky Sports Presenters Will Not Change Their Attitudes

Much outrage has appeared following the leaking of off-the-air sexist comments from Richard Keys and Andy Gray, football presenters at Sky Sports. Links of this outrage are given at the end of this post.

Suffice it to say sexist comments, like all other discriminatory views, are unwelcome and are to be actively discouraged from football (as well as in all walks of life). It should be common decency that a person should be judged on their ability and talent, rather than on unfounded preconceived guesses handed down, and accepted, by ignoramuses.

25-year-old Sian Massey, one of only two female officials operating as an assistant in the English Premier League, was the subject of sexist comments from Sky Sports presenters [Pic from AP]

Keys and Gray deserve all the criticism they get and then some. One of their targets Karren Brady, who is currently West Ham vice-chairman, said:

“It never would have occurred to me that they had those views, whether public or private".

Well Ms Brady, this is not an isolated incident. The sexist attitude of Keys and Gray, who have been presenting football for Sky Sports for nearly two decades, has been around from the very beginning. This latest incident only serves to reveal that their bigoted views will not change. For example, here is a videoclip of this pair of clowns back in 1998, when they could not contain themselves (smirking, guffawing, etc) while watching highlights from the 1998 Women’s FA Cup Final.

Andy Gray & Richard Keys Laughing At Women's Football





Apart from Sky Sports deciding to suspend the pair of clowns for one night, let's see what (if any) other punishments will be meted out to Keys and Gray.


ASIDE (since this is a Refereeing blog!):
If you watch the 1998 Women's FA Cup Final highlights carefully, two Arsenal goals perhaps should have been disallowed and this would have meant that unfashionable Croydon would probably have won the 1998 Women’s FA Cup.
The first Arsenal goal perhaps should have been disallowed for a push in the back (0:38); and the third Arsenal goal maybe could have been offside (1:36).


References:

Sky presenters in the firing line over sexist jibes at female match official

Richard Keys and Andy Gray stood down from Sky game over sexism row

Sky Sports presenters Andy Gray and Richard Keys say sorry after mocking lineswoman during Liverpool victory

Sky Sports presenters Keys and Gray score an own goal as microphone picks up sexist diatribe against female linesman - and Apprentice star Karren Brady

Linogate: the fall-out begins... Sky say sorry as Andy Gray and Richard Keys foul up

Sky sexism was no surprise but prejudice needs punishment

Premier League - Sky football presenters in sexism storm