Date: 23rd January 2011 at 9:16pm
Written by:

There will be some that might manipulate this conversation between Andy Gray and Richard Keys because of envy or plain old fashioned spite. They are after all hardly ‘popular’ individuals.

Last year they were caught having a go at Theo Walcott and whilst as pundits they are well within their rights to discuss a player, I think this time they have cross the boundary.

The reason I’m publishing then is people, irrespective of their sex, sexual orientation, colour or creed are entitled in the workplace to be dealt with in a courteous and appropriate manner. Just because it’s telly, it doesn’t mean you can somehow ‘get away’ with more than you could on the ‘shop floor’.

Sian Massey the female assistant didn’t get the job by chance and it is really ignorant to make such snide cracks. This isn’t about being PC, it’s about being fair. Should they be fired?

I’d certainly like them to apologise live on air to Sian Massey.

Here is the audio file HERE. And the OFCOM Tell Us Page is HERE.

So what do you think? Should they be sacked, made to apologise on air or *if you live in the stone ages* do you think they are right?

Let us know!

Thanks to Escapini over at the Football Transfer Tavern for raising this very important issue – Ed.

 

13 responses to “AUDIO: Keys & Gray – harmless fun or over stepping the mark?”

  1. Rob says:

    Honestly? There would have been far, far worse being said in the stands… Should we put mikes in the stands to root out the sexist fans?

    That being said, maybe an apology is the best thing to do right now… for starters anyway

    • Yashi says:

      Most fans are idiots, that is correct. Far worse is said in the stands, which doesn’t make it right at all, does it?

      MAYBE an apology? Maybe? An apology goes without saying. That’s the least they can do. No-one is going to bar them from watching football again, but they should probably resign or be sacked. There is no place for such petty-mindedness and sexism in football.

      I can’t believe I am having to argue why they should be reprimanded!

  2. NIck says:

    Theyre just sayin what every man thinks, every man that feels emasculated by these women trying to get involved with our beautiful game that is.
    its as bad as having a woman commentating on match of the day, i turn it off, its just pathetic!
    we all know about equal rights, so why get involved to prove a point?
    women linesmen? not needed!!!
    the game has gone mad!

    • Yashi says:

      NO, they are NOT saying what every man thinks! That is absolute bullshit! It is absolute ignorance to say something like that! Keys and Gray do NOT represent every man!

      Not every man thinks woman can’t appreciate football as much as men do. Not every man thinks woman can’t get involved in football if they wish to do so. Some women know more than a lot of male football fans. There are female journalists who could teach you a thing or two about football. Whether or not the PL are trying to prove a point, Keys and Gray were clearly and utterly myopic in their views. And Chudi is right, they should be sent to the stone ages!

  3. RedScot says:

    Keys and Gray were recorded during transmission of Saturday’s Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool complaining that the assistant referee, Sian Massey, probably didn’t know the offside rule and that someone “fucked up big” by appointing a female match official. “The game’s gone mad,” said Keys, the channel’s football anchor. The recording was not broadcast, but was passed to the Mail on Sunday by an anonymous source.

    Massey, 25, was running the line in a Premier League game for only the second time and made a crucial, finely judged offside decision when Fernando Torres scored the first goal for Liverpool. She is one of three assistant referees selected for promotion by the Premier League and has been earmarked as a potential official in for the biggest matches. There are 853 female referees in England and the number is rising
    In the 50-second exchange, Gray also attacked Wendy Toms, who in the late 90s became the first female assistant referee in the Premier League, saying: “She was fucking hopeless as well.” Keys turned his fire on Karren Brady, the deputy chair of West Ham, who on Saturday wrote a newspaper column saying she had been the victim of sex discrimination from the football media. “See charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism?” Keys said. “Yeah. Do me a favour, love.
    .
    .Hypocrisy from them both plus the lady linesWoman ran the line very well and got a “Big” call for a offside bang on.The thing that is complex with this sort of issue it was “Off Air”. We well we know the consequences of this aka Ron Atkinson, it does not matter walls have ears.
    Sack them.

  4. Tony Bone says:

    People are missing the point, shouldnt these women be in the kitchen cooking for their men? Why are they out in the first place?

    • RedScot says:

      Is that my mate from another United site that I “used” to write on TonyB.? Only he could think that up as a wind up! lol.

  5. Giles Oakley says:

    Good post from RedScot, as I’d expect. This sexism is horrible and there is no place for it in the modern world. I’ve been taking my daughter to see United from time to time for 15 years and my neices have been going to football for even longer, and they all have every right to be there.In my experience, the men most likely to harbour sexist thoughts are those who are frightened of women, can’t cope with them, run away from them. Sad people all round.

  6. RedScot says:

    @Giles Oakley, praise indeed from a United supporter I love to read his comments on the fabulous ROM Forum.With many great commentators.I just got a bit tired of ROM recently in tandem with this article of people just arriving and being over sensitive for know reason about player choices and how they played or not. Most of my posts were fun and laughing when i posted its meant to be fun and banter. I dont want to get into swearing abuse over the Tinter net.
    .
    Giles we must stop meeting like this! :)I will be back! 😉
    .
    The sexism was well off the mark.Not necessary.

  7. jonathan says:

    Their comments were totally off mark, but can someone explain to me why there needs to be co-ed referees when it’s not a co-ed sport? That being said I’m not too worried either way it goes.

    I don’t even have a problem with female sports journalists, only that the broadcasters should hire females who have background in the sport and in journalism. Let’s face it, the girls from MUTV are lightweight journalists at best, and are more or less a pretty face.

    The NFL’s had two major events this year relating to sexism by players towards a female host. The actions of the players are not defensible, but it is still worth questioning the wisdom of throwing a vixen into a largely male environment.
    http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/09/13/2010-09-13_ines_sainz_mexican_sports_reporter_claiming_sexual_harassment_by_jets_uses_twitt.html

  8. james holden says:

    In my experience I’ve had some of the best football conversations with women and personally I find it endearing and a huge plus if a woman knows her footy. What they said was disgusting and they should be rightly fired for there remarks, but its sky and I doubt such things will happen. I maybe wrong.

  9. RedScot says:

    Richard Keys and Andy Gray will “not” be presenting the Monday Night football show.
    They have been suspended.

  10. onkar says:

    hey guys can anybody pls give the above conversation in text?..