Football pundit Andy Gray has been sacked by Sky Sports over his 'sexist' comments about female assistant referee Sian Massey, it was reported on Sky News.
He was dropped from last night's show after he and co-presenter Richard Keys made a series of disparaging remarks about Ms Massey at the weekend which were recorded off-air and leaked to a newspaper.
Ms Massey was due to be running the line at tonight's Crewe Alexandra's League Two match against Bradford City but has now withdrawn from officiating at the match.
She received an apology yesterday in a call from Keys.
Sky Sports has now sacked Gray after further footage of him making sexist remarks emerged. In a statement confirming his dismissal, Sky also referred to a separate incident last month.
The broadcaster said Gray was dismissed "in response to new evidence of unacceptable and offensive behaviour" following an "off-air incident that took place in December 2010".
New footage was shown on Sky News today of Gray asking a female colleague to help him tuck his microphone into his trousers but it is not known if this was the incident referred to by the broadcaster.
However, it appears that Keys will keep his job after he was given a warning, along with Gray, yesterday.
The pair agreed that female officials "don't know the offside rule" and predicted Massey would drop a clanger during Wolves' home game against Liverpool on Saturday. She ended up correctly calling a crucial borderline decision.
Paul Taylor: Stupid comments by Sky pair ... but call off the thought police
Comment: Sky right to sack Andy Gray
Helen Tither: Sky sports sexism row has done everyone a favour
Peter Spencer: Andy Gray and Richard Keys should hand their heads in shame
Keys's telephone call to Massey yesterday was confirmed by a spokesman for Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO).
She was said to have accepted the apology and to be keen to move on from the matter.
But Gray, reportedly paid more than £1 million a year, faced more embarrassment today after footage of him talking about Massey with pitchside reporter Andy Burton was revealed.
Burton said "apparently, a female lino today, bit of a looker", with Gray responding: "A female linesman?"
Burton continued: "He (a Sky Sports crew member) says she (Massey) is all right. Now I don't know if I should trust his judgment on that?"
Gray then said: "No, I wouldn't. I definitely wouldn't ... I can see her from here," before swearing and adding: "What do women know about the offside rule?"
Burton has been dropped from a scheduled appearance on a match later this week.
Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis said earlier that Keys and Gray had been disciplined and dropped from coverage of last night's match.
He said yesterday: "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."
Former Everton striker Gray and Keys are both long-standing front men of Sky Sports' football coverage.
They thought their conversation was private but it was obtained by the Mail on Sunday.
The duo agreed that someone should get pitchside to explain the offside rule to Massey.
Paul Taylor: Stupid comments by Sky pair ... but call off the thought police
Comment: Sky right to sack Andy Gray
Helen Tither: Sky sports sexism row has done everyone a favour
Peter Spencer: Andy Gray and Richard Keys should hand their heads in shame
Keys added: "I can guarantee you there'll be a big one today. (Liverpool manager) Kenny (Dalglish) will go potty."
Then, referring to West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady's piece about sexism in a Saturday newspaper, Keys added: "See charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Yeah. Do me a favour, love."
At Liverpool's press conference yesterday, Dalglish poked fun at Sky Sports reporter Vinny O'Connor.
Referring to a female radio reporter, Dalglish asked O'Connor: "Is it all right for the lady to be here, doesn't affect Sky, no?"
The Scot's daughter Kelly, a former presenter on Sky Sports News, said on her Twitter account: "Phew, am exhausted. Just read about something called "the offside rule". Too much for my tiny brain. Must be damaged from nail polish fumes."
Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
I couldn't give a hoot if I never saw a pair of frilly knickers running around a tennis court making silly noises or a woman wearing shorts relieving herself in public whilst running a long distance race ever again.
Mountain out of a mole-hill - one way sexism, just like one-way racism!
Those of you who think sexism is extinct should just cast an eye over this sorry episode. Comments like this simply wouldn't be made about a male linesman.
I'd like to see Keys and Gray do Ms Massey's job... learn the rules, do the exams and tests, put herself out there and keep the game flowing within the rules.
Any damn fool can kick a ball.
P C GONE APE
Look, any excuse to get shot of Andy "listen-up-whilst-I-state-the-obvious" Gray is to be grasped with both hands.
Gray - Out, Gray - Out........
Everyday there are comments like this one and worse on loose women but aimed the other way and that is just taken as girly banter.....
Off your high horses women - its nearly tea time
Total witch hunt! If they would have said the same about a male referee,nothing would have been mentioned! What is the difference?
If we ever get gay or lesbian linepersons,matches will have to pre recorded in case anything slips out! (can I write that?)
This is like the Ross/Brand scandal a couple of years ago. The woman concerned has accepted an apology and wants to move on from the matter. Unfortunately the media don't want to leave it alone until everyone is suitably outraged. Sky missed a trick last night by not getting a female presenter for the Bolton v Chelsea coverage. I'm sure the sexist views expressed by these two are widespread throughout the game, they have been a little unlucky to get caught out but I think others will think twice before expressing mysogynistic views again, you never know who's listening in.
Why is everyone getting their knickers in a twist over what two clowns have said, who cares?
If the remarks had been made about an ethnic minority they'd both have been sacked, no one would have said that a male referee needs teaching the offside rule before the match. It wasn't said as a joke it was serious. The ladies at the FA have been very professional in their reaction to it all.
A pair of boorish oafs.
I'm just thankfull that I don't have sky tv, so I wont have to cancel my subscription. this is a bridge to far as far as the PC brigade is concerned.
The preverbial mountain out of a mole hill.
It's just too pathetic to make any further comment other than ...I can't see this female linesman ...sorry person lol, getting much more premiership football to preside over.
Well I won't be sad to see Gray go, his dislike of the Manchester clubs was clear for all to see and his sexist views are indefensible.
Big pat on the back to Sky for having the guts to give him the boot.
This is a bit rich coming from sky. Their employment criteria for female sports reporters would appear to be "blonds with cleavage".
Good luck to Miss Massey. She does the job better than most.
the funny aspect about this story is that the tv footage was released by sky tv, who both of these works for. there was also another clip released by sky of andy gray passing comment on another woman who was a linesman/woman.
Why did sky sky release this footage. did it have anything to do with the rumour that andy gray is currently suing the news of the world for tapping his phone?? thats where it gets funnier. gray is employed by sky which is owned by news corp, and he is suing another branch of the news corp media. maybe this footage was released by sky to undermine his case......????
lets hope his missus has got his tea on tonight !
My interest has already flagged ! I don`t subscribe to sexism and I am a big believer in equal rights. However, it does seem harsh to sack Gray (even though I`m not a fan of his) when a stern reprimand might have sufficed. Gray was on money i can only dream about but I never like to hear of ANYONE losing their job. Most people live up to the level of their income so everyone has the same financial problems in ratio to what they earn. That is, bigger mortgages maybe, higher levels of social entertaining etc.
Though I don`t particularly like Andy Gray, with his love of stating the obvious and
his pre-match waffling, I still feel sorry for his losing his job.
The guy is a clown and hates both manchester clubs...but to be sacked for off air comments for "banter" then it's wrong. PC gone way over the top!! Ever checked out that toilet of a programme "loose women" us blokes always get slated!!! Do we complain?....and their comments are aired!!!
I can see it now, FIFA making provisions to install ironing boards on the touchline lol
Don,t like AG but everyone getting their knickers in a twist about some daft comment, I wonder how she feels about the sacking?
Big Ron got sacked so why shouldn't these two prats?.
gray is so biased in his views on football and still thinks it is fair to kick lumps out of opposing players - just like the good old days!
keys started on tv am with anne diamond and somehow found his way to skysports talking about football - something that he, quite obviously, knows nothing about.
good riddance
Agree with Stellro, Loose Women's script (?) comprises of not much more that having a pop at the men; it happens it's life!
However, £1:7M for a Pillock like Andy Gray, they could get a few good "wimmin" commentators for that kind of dosh, where do I apply? Oh, and I know nowt about the offside rule.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a sad politically correct world we are living in these days!
Pathetic reaction by Sky.
Even most guys thought Andy Gray was a complete waste of space and full of his own importance.
Well guys, what can we say, it took a Women!!
Now put one in charge of the FA and we might start to win something............