Sky Sports presenters making sexist comments

Chucky the tree

Sky Sports presenters Richard Key and Andy Gray were recorded off air making comments about a lineswomen in yesterdays Wolves vs Liverpool match. I'm curious what a female opinion of this is. Should they be punished for saying something sexist off air? For example, if two lads had this conversation in the canteen would you report them over it?

Commenting on Ms Massey, Mr Keys said: ‘Somebody better get down there and explain offside to her.’

Mr Gray, a former Scottish international footballer, replied: ‘Can you believe that? A female linesman. Women don’t know the offside rule.’

Mr Keys replied: ‘Course they don’t. I can guarantee you there will be a big one today. Kenny (Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish) will go potty. This isn’t the first time, is it? Didn’t we have one before?’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1349729/Sky-Sports-presenters-sexist-diatribe-female-linesman-Apprentice-star-Karren-Brady.html

Audio: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/01_04/sky.mp3

Another clip here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWcPxDdJbeo

Update: Gray been sacked after a second video was leaked.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9373280.stm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cS8OkAiXCI

Yakult

Fools the two of them.

Wonder will anything be done about it?

Chucky the tree

Yakult wrote: »

Fools the two of them.

Wonder will anything be done about it?

Unlikely. Keys has said some stupid stuff about Theo Walcott(called him a stupid little boy or something similiar) and nothing happened to him.

Mister men

Sky Sports = tabloid TV. You get what you deserve if you watch that ****e.

neveah

Well first off I can't stand Andy Grey anyway but those are extremely sexist comments it can't be denied. I was watching that match yesterday (great result btw:p) and the female linesperson did a good job. Initially I was surprised to see it was a female purely because it is so rare. I don't get why men think that women don't understand the offside rule, of course we do (well those of us who watch soccer regularly), it's not rocket science ffs!:rolleyes:

Just want to add that I definitely think that Grey and Keys should apologise for those comments, they've really showed themselves up here and sure aren't Sky Sports the ones who have all those pretty ladies fronting the Sky Sports News, they obviously don't mind a woman talking about soccer as long as she's easy on the eye!!

Sephiroth_dude

neveah wrote: »

Well first off I can't stand Andy Grey anyway but those are extremely sexist comments it can't be denied. I was watching that match yesterday (great result btw:p) and the female linesperson did a good job. Initially I was surprised to see it was a female purely because it is so rare. I don't get why men think that women don't understand the offside rule, of course we do (well those of us who watch soccer regularly), it's not rocket science ffs!:rolleyes:

Was watching it too and she did very well,oh and I'm not to fond of andy gray what with been an evertonian and everything :pac:

TheNewMee

I was delighted when she got that major offside decision right for the first goal - you could imagine the headlines the next day if she didn't.

neveah

TheNewMee wrote: »

I was delighted when she got that major offside decision right for the first goal - you could imagine the headlines the next day if she didn't.

I can imagine! I think it would be safe to say that the main focus of every story would be that she was female. Sure we all know that linesmen don't make any mistakes or bad calls!:rolleyes:

On a serious note though she wouldn't have been given the job if she didn't have the relevant experience, she must know her stuff.

Dudess

Very unprofessional. Stuff like this, when in a messing context, doesn't bother me in the least - I find it funny myself. But they just seemed to be really sneering and condescending.

Up-n-atom!

So sick of Andy Gray, this doesn't really surprise me - just more of his so-called "expert opinion". Most women don't know the off-side rule because they couldn't care less about football, while those who take an interest generally keep themselves informed. Although the way the rules are at the moment I wonder if anybody truely understands it now! I am surprised that they've seemed to be let away with it though - it can be alienating enough being a female football fan at the best of times without this sort of sh*te!

Chucky the tree

Chucky the tree wrote: »

For example, if two lads had this conversation in the canteen would you report them over it?

In the canteen? No, they can say what they like.
On tv though, they'd want to have some fcuking cop on and join the rest of us in the current century

amiable

I've heard they have apologized

http://www.epltalk.com/andy-gray-and-richard-keys-aim-sexist-remarks-against-sian-massey-say-report-28711

panda100

I really dislike the rampant sexism in sport. Hearing this made me want to do a Cantona on Grays head.
Theres something altogether very seedy about Sky sports female staff. It's odd how they're all very young and attractive,yet most of the male commentators are old and balding.

WesternNight

I was kind of hoping that these comments were said in a sarcastic tongue-in-cheek context and it was just blown out of proportion but having listened to the audio there's no chance of that unfortunately.

I like how they forget the amount of mistakes male referees make, but I guess they must just blink at the wrong time or something. The confirmation bias is in full swing in Sky Sports it seems.

amacachi

WesternNight wrote: »

I was kind of hoping that these comments were said in a sarcastic tongue-in-cheek context and it was just blown out of proportion but having listened to the audio there's no chance of that unfortunately.

Same here. "She probably doesn't know the offside rule" isn't that bad, just a lame attempt at a joke but Keys saying "The game's gone mad" and especially the way he said it was more than crap.

WesternNight

amacachi wrote: »

Same here. "She probably doesn't know the offside rule" isn't that bad, just a lame attempt at a joke but Keys saying "The game's gone mad" and especially the way he said it was more than crap.

It was the sigh that did it for me.. the slightly defeated sigh as if she was ruining his day or something.

Chucky the tree

bluewolf wrote: »

In the canteen? No, they can say what they like.
On tv though, they'd want to have some fcuking cop on and join the rest of us in the current century

It wasn't on TV though, it was said off air but I'm guessing someone in the production studio leaked it.

panda100 wrote: »

I really dislike the rampant sexism in sport. Hearing this made me want to do a Cantona on Grays head.
Theres something altogether very seedy about Sky sports female staff. It's odd how they're all very young and attractive,yet most of the male commentators are old and balding.

Sex sells, especially for men. For a station who's main audience is males then it's not that surprising they employ attractive females.

Dudess

Yeah, but the point being made is: it's ok for women to work in a sports-related field on certain terms.

WesternNight

It's not like it should matter where it was said, it's about respect and none was shown by them in this instance.

amacachi

WesternNight wrote: »

It was the sigh that did it for me.. the slightly defeated sigh as if she was ruining his day or something.

I suppose we should feel sorry for him, I mean his whole professional life has been in football and it's just gone now.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

I've seen a few people on this forum and other forums on boards complaining that womens sports don't get the same media attention as male sports. well in the case of football that video that was linked earlier in the thread should put the argument to rest. that was just hilariously awful.

Bodhisopha

amacachi wrote: »

I suppose we should feel sorry for him, I mean his whole professional life has been in football and it's just gone now.

It's not gone, not by a long shot.

Up-n-atom!

Yup, I did cringe watching the female football bit - I wouldn't delude myself and say women's football is on par with men's, but it's got a lot of catching up to do in terms of funding, a women's 'culture' of football etc (eg. new dads - or indeed, mums, don't generally kick a football around with their daughters as soon as they can walk like they would with their sons)

amacachi

Bodhisopha wrote: »

It's not gone, not by a long shot.

Yes it is, he said himself "the game's gone mad" :pac:

Ebbs

bluewolf wrote: »

In the canteen? No, they can say what they like.
On tv though, they'd want to have some fcuking cop on and join the rest of us in the current century

It wasn't on TV, it was off air. No one heard it bar whoever heard the tape in the studio.

Everyone calling for their heads is laughable, I am sure you have all said something way way way worse to a friend.

Chucky the tree wrote: »

Sex sells, especially for men. For a station who's main audience is males then it's not that surprising they employ attractive females.

That and the fact the men are for the most part ex footballers, hence old and balding. Any chance to get a young footballer is jumped at, look at Jamie, he is loved by oul Rupert.

Sky have always favoured young employees, dont make this about gender.

WesternNight

Ebbs wrote: »

Everyone calling for their heads is laughable, I am sure you have all said something way way way worse to a friend.

So, what, for people to be validly annoyed about something no-one can ever have said anything worse? Seriously?

Logical Fallacy

WesternNight wrote: »

So, what, for people to be validly annoyed about something no-one can ever have said anything worse? Seriously?

May he who is without sin, cast the first stone. Etc.

In all seriousness, it was said off air, so what can you do to the lads? Not much.

Freedom of speech etc.

WesternNight

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

In all seriousness, it was said off air, so what can you do to the lads? Not much.

Freedom of speech etc.

I wouldn't want anything done to them. It'd just be nice for them to realise that their prejudices aren't justified, is all.

Jimmy Iovine

Richard Keys is a goon. Andy Gray is one of the most annoying pundits in the game. Stuck up his on arse and hasn't a clue what he's on about most of the time but says it in such a way that people think he's a genius.

As for them laughing at the women's match, it was pretty laughable in all fairness. I am all for equality to an extent in sport but that was shocking quality. That is meant to be the FA Cup final not a Junior match.

The boys are fools for saying what they did . If there was justice they would be fired and replaced with proper pundits and presenters, but that's hardly ever going to happen unfortunately

Stheno

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

I've seen a few people on this forum and other forums on boards complaining that womens sports don't get the same media attention as male sports. well in the case of football that video that was linked earlier in the thread should put the argument to rest. that was just hilariously awful.

SDCC, can you keep to the original topic being discussed, rather than posting in a manner that is derailing the thread?

Thanks
Stheno.

Stheno

Jimmy Iovine wrote: »

As for them laughing at the women's match, it was pretty laughable in all fairness. I am all for equality to an extent in sport but that was shocking quality. That is meant to be the FA Cup final not a Junior match.

Jimmy Iovine,

As above please keep to the original topic being discussed and do not derail the thread.

Thanks
Stheno.

Ooo I missed the off air bit. :o
Well in that case I suppose there's not much you can do is there

pollypocket10

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

May he who is without sin, cast the first stone. Etc.

In all seriousness, it was said off air, so what can you do to the lads? Not much.

Freedom of speech etc.

No such thing as Freedom of speech when it comes to defamation I'm afraid.

Which is exactly what they are doing by insinuating that they female in question isn't capable of doing her job. The fact that they believe this is because she is female just makes it all the more outrageous because it is also sexist!

Fact that it was off-air makes no odds, they were still on the clock and it was said publicly & recorded!

ztoical

It may have been said off air but they were still in the studio and therefore still at work.

IamtheWalrus

I hope both are sacked because they are 2 of the biggest gimps in football broadcasting.

Stheno

They've both been suspended now

Sky Sports Presenters Disciplined For Comments


Two Sky Sports football presenters have been disciplined and dropped from coverage of a Premier League match after making critical comments about a female assistant referee.

Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis said the pair had been removed from their duties covering tonight's Bolton and Chelsea clash.

He said: "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.

Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis

"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."

Sue Tibballs, Women’s Sport And Fitness Foundation

The pair were recorded off-air saying women "probably don’t know the offside rule", when they were discussing the appointment of Sian Massey to Saturday’s Premier League match between Wolves and Liverpool.

Keys said: "Somebody better get down there and explain the offside rule to her."

To which Gray replied: "Yeah, I know, can you believe that? A female linesman. That’s exactly what I was saying: women don’t know the offside rule.

"Why do we call them linesmen?"

Keys then added: "Course they don’t. I can guarantee you there'll be a big one today. Kenny (Liverpool manager Dalglish) will go potty."

He then remarked on comments made by West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady in The Sun on Saturday about the amount of sexism in football, saying: "The game’s gone mad. See charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Yeah. Do me a favour, love."

I am surprised they didn't say 'better go and get her to get the kettle on'

Read Karren Brady's response to the comments

The comments, which were not transmitted, were made when the pair believed their microphones were switched off.

Karren Brady has criticised the pair for their comments, saying they made her "blood boil".

"I am surprised they didn't say 'better go and get her to get the kettle on'," she told Radio Five Live.

The Football Association has given its support to Massey, 25, who made a correct borderline call in the build up to Liverpool’s first goal.



An FA statement said: "The FA has made real strides in encouraging both male and female match officials to enter the game at every level, and will continue to offer every encouragement to all officials within the football family to progress to the highest levels possible.

"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."

neveah

I'm glad to hear that they have been disciplined. Their comments were extremely sexist, I'm glad Sky Sports have made some effort to show that they were unacceptable.

panda100

Wow I can't believe Sky Sports made such a progressive move!

PeakOutput

i think they made a joke which happens to be sexist, it wasnt meant to be broadcast but it was so there should(and has been) be disciplinary action taken.

that should be the end of it

people make sexist/racist/generally prejudice jokes all the time that dosnt mean they are any of the above

WesternNight

PeakOutput wrote: »

i think they made a joke which happens to be sexist, it wasnt meant to be broadcast but it was so there should(and has been) be disciplinary action taken.

that should be the end of it

people make sexist/racist/generally prejudice jokes all the time that dosnt mean they are any of the above

Did you listen to it? They genuinely meant every word they said.

PeakOutput

WesternNight wrote: »

Did you listen to it? They genuinely meant every word they said.

nope just read it, if it was stated as fact then thats pretty ridicolous alright but from the text it reads as a joke

amiable

WesternNight wrote: »

Did you listen to it? They genuinely meant every word they said.

I've stayed out of this for ages and just following this thread but how can you definitively say ''they genuinely meant every word they said''?
Keys has apologized to the girl herself.
Can people not just draw a line under it?

PeakOutput

amiable wrote: »

I've stayed out of this for ages and just following this thread but how can you definitively say ''they genuinely meant every word they said''?
Keys has apologized to the girl herself.
Can people not just draw a line under it?

ah to be fair i just listened to it and it definitely sounds that way

i dont think they should be fired or anything, it was off air and obviously they never expected it to be broadcast and nor should it have been really, people are entitled to their personal opinions no matter how distasteful and as long as they do their jobs professionaly then thats all that matters

but ye they sound like sexist pricks alright

amiable

PeakOutput wrote: »

ah to be fair i just listened to it and it definitely sounds that way

i dont think they should be fired or anything, it was off air and obviously they never expected it to be broadcast and nor should it have been really, people are entitled to their personal opinions no matter how distasteful and as long as they do their jobs professionaly then thats all that matters

but ye they sound like sexist pricks alright

Well IMO there's more chance of a rocking horse making a sh1t than them getting sacked.
Its a massive over reaction imo. They've said sorry.
Build a bridge and get over it

Ickle Magoo

amiable wrote: »

Build a bridge and get over it

I'm not sure why that's directed at anyone here - I think you'll find the posters of The Ladies Lounge have very little to do with the disciplinary proceedings of Sky employees.

It was a really stupid thing to say while within 100ft of a recording device, if they haven't the brains to work that out then they deserve everything they get.

phasers

Suspended? For something they said off air?

Absolutely ludicrous. regardless of whether they were being sexist or not, it should not affect their broadcasting careers! They were having a chat ffs! If they had said it during the broadcast I'd completely agree with the actions, what they said was insulting and rude,but I really don't think that someone should face any kind of disciplinary action at work for what is said "on the outside" (and imo when a broadcaster is off the air they are off duty.)

Ickle Magoo

They were still "in the office" still being paid to do a job to the specifications of their contracts - whether they were actually on live microphone or not is irrelevant. Presumably Sky's terms of employment do not just exist for the duration the mic is turned on.

Is it okay for newscasters to be racists, day time tv hosts to be homophobic or film stars to announce their anti-semitism? As long as they keep it shtum while on live TV? No - and minority bashing/sexism/etc is fast becoming a fabulous way to become a TV company/cable show/film studio pariah - which is a good thing, if it's one thing the world could do with less of, it's the knuckle-draggers.

Chucky the tree

phasers wrote: »

Suspended? For something they said off air?

Absolutely ludicrous. regardless of whether they were being sexist or not, it should not affect their broadcasting careers! They were having a chat ffs! If they had said it during the broadcast I'd completely agree with the actions, what they said was insulting and rude,but I really don't think that someone should face any kind of disciplinary action at work for what is said "on the outside" (and imo when a broadcaster is off the air they are off duty.)

Ickle got there before me pretty much. But even off air if there were any females working in the studio I doubt they would haven been impressed at all, and probably very offended.

ztoical

phasers wrote: »

(and imo when a broadcaster is off the air they are off duty.)

That might be your opinion but its not the reality. I currently work for the largest tv production company in the UK and can say it's not a case for on air talent that they are only on duty when the cameras are rolling. I've been to enough recordings to know you can have laugh and joke around but you are in the office just like any other business and expected to act accordingly at all times. They had mics on, were in the studio in front of at least five if not more production crew/floor staff and god knows how many in the edit suit. For the moment they arrived to the studio [and by studio I mean the studio building not the set] they were expected to act like professionals.

If you work in an office and start having a chat with the guy at the desk next to you loud enough for everyone in the office to hear and that conversation is not suitable for the work place your at the very least going to get told to shut up and at worse end up in front of a disciplinary.

amiable

Ickle Magoo wrote: »

I'm not sure why that's directed at anyone here - I think you'll find the posters of The Ladies Lounge have very little to do with the disciplinary proceedings of Sky employees.

It was a really stupid thing to say while within 100ft of a recording device, if they haven't the brains to work that out then they deserve everything they get.

I agree it was a stupid thing to say. They've said sorry. There's worse things happening. Because they have no brains they deserve to be punished? Strange

ztoical

amiable wrote: »

I agree it was a stupid thing to say. They've said sorry. There's worse things happening. Because they have no brains they deserve to be punished? Strange

Because they acted unprofessional and most likely in breach of the contract they signed with their employer regarding their conduct while in work they deserve to be punished by their employer.