Post by Macmoish on Jan 24, 2011 7:38:17 GMT
Guardian
Sky presenters in the firing line over sexist jibes at female match official'
Their comments are not acceptable' says Sky spokesman as criticism pours in from across the game
Robert Booth guardian.co.uk, Sunday 23
Sky Sports was under pressure last night to discipline its top football presenting team, Richard Keys and Andy Gray, after they were recorded making sexist remarks about two female match officials and a leading female football executive.
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 "F***ed 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 F***ing 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."
The remarks drew criticism from across the game. "It is absolutely abhorrent that gender is the only consideration when talking about female officials," Brady told the Guardian. "I am very interested to see what the bosses at Sky Sports think of this and then we will know whether sexism goes to the top of the game or not."
The comments were branded "medieval" by Fare, a Europe-wide campaign group opposed to discrimination in football. "They reveal the appalling and damaging sexist attitudes that exist across football," said Piara Powar, its executive director. "If they had made the same comments about a black or Asian linesman we would be looking at what happened to Ron Atkinson [who was urged to resign as a pundit by ITV in 2004 after he made a racist remark live on air about the black Chelsea player Marcel Desailly when he thought the microphone was off]."
Sky said last night: "The comments are not acceptable. They were not made on air but we have spoken to Richard and Andy and told them our views and they have apologised and expressed their regret."
The FA issued a statement which offered "wholehearted and continuing support" for female match officials.
Mike Riley, general manager of the referees' body said: "All referees and assistant referees are appointed on merit and ability. They are assessed on their performances only."
Caught offside
Richard Keys: Well, somebody better get down there and explain offside to her.
Andy Gray: Yeah, I know. Can you believe that? Female linesman. Forget what I said – they probably don't know the offside rule.
RK: Course they don't.
AG: Why is there a female linesman? Somebody's F***ed up big.
RK: I can guarantee you there'll be a big one today. Kenny [Dalglish, Liverpool's manager] will go potty. This is not the first time. Didn't we have one before?
AG: Yeah.
RK: Wendy Toms.
AG: Wendy Toms, something like that. She was F***ing hopeless as well.
RK: [exasperated groan]
AG: [inaudible]
RK: No, no, it's got to be done, it's good. The game's gone mad. See charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Yeah. Do me a favour, love.
www.guardian.co.uk/global/2011/jan/23/sky-presenters-sexist-remarks-female-official
Almost 500 Readers' Comments www.guardian.co.uk/global/2011/jan/23/sky-presenters-sexist-remarks-female-official#start-of-comments
TELEGRAPH
Sky Sports presenters Andy Gray and Richard Keys say sorry after mocking lineswoman during Liverpool victory
Andy Gray and Richard Keys, the Sky Sports presenters, were forced to apologise for sexist comments aimed at a lineswoman during Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Wolves.
By Sandy Macaskill
The pair had thought their observations on Sian Massey and her understanding of the offside rule during the match at Molineux were being made in private, but their microphones were still on. A transcript and tape of the conversation was leaked to the media.
Although no part of their exchange was broadcast, their comments provoked outrage when made public on Sunday and Sky, which has the broadcast rights to the women’s FA Cup final, was quick to castigate Keys and Gray.
The men were said to have apologised, although it was unclear whether their apology had been made to Massey. “The comments reported are not acceptable,” Sky said.
“They were not made on air but we have spoken to Richard and Andy and told them our views. They have apologised and expressed their regret.”
Keys and Gray made their remarks after Massey refused to penalise Raul Meireles for being offside before he set up Liverpool’s first goal. Television replays showed that she was right to allow Fernando Torres’s goal in the 36th minute, but that did not stop Keys and Gray berating the 25 year-old.
“Somebody better get down there and explain offside to her,” Keys said.
“Can you believe that?” Gray responded. “A female linesman. Women don’t know the offside rule.”
“Course they don’t,” Keys replied. “I can guarantee you there will be a big one today. Kenny [Dalglish] will go potty. This isn’t the first time, is it? Didn’t we have one before? Wendy Toms?”
Keys was referring to Dorset postmistress Toms, the first female to run the line in the Football League and Premier League. Gray is overheard on the recording saying “she was ------- hopeless as well”.
Keys later criticised Karren Brady, the West Ham vice-chairman, who had written a newspaper column about sexism. “The game’s gone mad,” he said. “Did you hear charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Do me a favour, love.”
Brady branded the remarks as “absolutely abhorrent” while Kelly Cates, the daughter of Liverpool manager Dalglish and a former Sky Sports News presenter now working for ESPN, ridiculed Gray and Keys.
“Phew am exhausted,” she wrote on Twitter. “Just read about something called 'the offside rule’. Too much for my tiny brain. Must be damaged from nail polish fumes.”
The Football Association reiterated its “wholehearted and continuing support” for female match officials.
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/8277518/Sky-Sports-presenters-Andy-Gray-and-Richard-Keys-say-sorry-after-mocking-lineswoman-during-Liverpool-victory.html
BBC
Sky Sports pair criticised over female assistant referee comments
Sian Massey was the assistant referee officiating at the Wolves and Liverpool Premier League clash Sky Sports has said off-air remarks made by two football presenters about female assistant referee Sian Massey were "not acceptable".
Host Richard Keys and pundit Andy Gray commented on Ms Massey's appointment for the game between Wolves and Liverpool on Saturday.
The pair agreed female officials "don't know the offside rule" when they believed their microphones were off.
In a statement, Sky said the two men had apologised for the comments.
The Football Association has given its support to Ms Massey, 25, who made a correct borderline call in the build-up to Liverpool's first goal at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton.
Professional Game Match Officials
Speaking ahead of the match, Mr Keys said "somebody better get down there and explain offside to her" and Mr Gray remarked "women don't know the offside rule".
Mr Keys then said "of course they don't", before adding: "I can guarantee you there'll be a big one today. [Liverpool manager] Kenny [Dalglish] will go potty."
He then went on to remark on comments made by West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady in the Sun newspaper on Saturday morning about the level of sexism in football.
"See charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Yeah. Do me a favour, love," he said.
Sky said: "The comments are not acceptable. They were not made on air but we have spoken to Richard and Andy and told them our views and they have apologised and expressed their regret."
An FA statement said it had 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," it said.
Referees body Professional Game Match Officials issued a statement from their general manager Mike Riley.
It said: "All PGMO referees and assistant referees are appointed on merit and ability. They are assessed on their performances only."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12263398
Sky presenters in the firing line over sexist jibes at female match official'
Their comments are not acceptable' says Sky spokesman as criticism pours in from across the game
Robert Booth guardian.co.uk, Sunday 23
Sky Sports was under pressure last night to discipline its top football presenting team, Richard Keys and Andy Gray, after they were recorded making sexist remarks about two female match officials and a leading female football executive.
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 "F***ed 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 F***ing 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."
The remarks drew criticism from across the game. "It is absolutely abhorrent that gender is the only consideration when talking about female officials," Brady told the Guardian. "I am very interested to see what the bosses at Sky Sports think of this and then we will know whether sexism goes to the top of the game or not."
The comments were branded "medieval" by Fare, a Europe-wide campaign group opposed to discrimination in football. "They reveal the appalling and damaging sexist attitudes that exist across football," said Piara Powar, its executive director. "If they had made the same comments about a black or Asian linesman we would be looking at what happened to Ron Atkinson [who was urged to resign as a pundit by ITV in 2004 after he made a racist remark live on air about the black Chelsea player Marcel Desailly when he thought the microphone was off]."
Sky said last night: "The comments are not acceptable. They were not made on air but we have spoken to Richard and Andy and told them our views and they have apologised and expressed their regret."
The FA issued a statement which offered "wholehearted and continuing support" for female match officials.
Mike Riley, general manager of the referees' body said: "All referees and assistant referees are appointed on merit and ability. They are assessed on their performances only."
Caught offside
Richard Keys: Well, somebody better get down there and explain offside to her.
Andy Gray: Yeah, I know. Can you believe that? Female linesman. Forget what I said – they probably don't know the offside rule.
RK: Course they don't.
AG: Why is there a female linesman? Somebody's F***ed up big.
RK: I can guarantee you there'll be a big one today. Kenny [Dalglish, Liverpool's manager] will go potty. This is not the first time. Didn't we have one before?
AG: Yeah.
RK: Wendy Toms.
AG: Wendy Toms, something like that. She was F***ing hopeless as well.
RK: [exasperated groan]
AG: [inaudible]
RK: No, no, it's got to be done, it's good. The game's gone mad. See charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Yeah. Do me a favour, love.
www.guardian.co.uk/global/2011/jan/23/sky-presenters-sexist-remarks-female-official
Almost 500 Readers' Comments www.guardian.co.uk/global/2011/jan/23/sky-presenters-sexist-remarks-female-official#start-of-comments
TELEGRAPH
Sky Sports presenters Andy Gray and Richard Keys say sorry after mocking lineswoman during Liverpool victory
Andy Gray and Richard Keys, the Sky Sports presenters, were forced to apologise for sexist comments aimed at a lineswoman during Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Wolves.
By Sandy Macaskill
The pair had thought their observations on Sian Massey and her understanding of the offside rule during the match at Molineux were being made in private, but their microphones were still on. A transcript and tape of the conversation was leaked to the media.
Although no part of their exchange was broadcast, their comments provoked outrage when made public on Sunday and Sky, which has the broadcast rights to the women’s FA Cup final, was quick to castigate Keys and Gray.
The men were said to have apologised, although it was unclear whether their apology had been made to Massey. “The comments reported are not acceptable,” Sky said.
“They were not made on air but we have spoken to Richard and Andy and told them our views. They have apologised and expressed their regret.”
Keys and Gray made their remarks after Massey refused to penalise Raul Meireles for being offside before he set up Liverpool’s first goal. Television replays showed that she was right to allow Fernando Torres’s goal in the 36th minute, but that did not stop Keys and Gray berating the 25 year-old.
“Somebody better get down there and explain offside to her,” Keys said.
“Can you believe that?” Gray responded. “A female linesman. Women don’t know the offside rule.”
“Course they don’t,” Keys replied. “I can guarantee you there will be a big one today. Kenny [Dalglish] will go potty. This isn’t the first time, is it? Didn’t we have one before? Wendy Toms?”
Keys was referring to Dorset postmistress Toms, the first female to run the line in the Football League and Premier League. Gray is overheard on the recording saying “she was ------- hopeless as well”.
Keys later criticised Karren Brady, the West Ham vice-chairman, who had written a newspaper column about sexism. “The game’s gone mad,” he said. “Did you hear charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Do me a favour, love.”
Brady branded the remarks as “absolutely abhorrent” while Kelly Cates, the daughter of Liverpool manager Dalglish and a former Sky Sports News presenter now working for ESPN, ridiculed Gray and Keys.
“Phew am exhausted,” she wrote on Twitter. “Just read about something called 'the offside rule’. Too much for my tiny brain. Must be damaged from nail polish fumes.”
The Football Association reiterated its “wholehearted and continuing support” for female match officials.
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/8277518/Sky-Sports-presenters-Andy-Gray-and-Richard-Keys-say-sorry-after-mocking-lineswoman-during-Liverpool-victory.html
BBC
Sky Sports pair criticised over female assistant referee comments
Sian Massey was the assistant referee officiating at the Wolves and Liverpool Premier League clash Sky Sports has said off-air remarks made by two football presenters about female assistant referee Sian Massey were "not acceptable".
Host Richard Keys and pundit Andy Gray commented on Ms Massey's appointment for the game between Wolves and Liverpool on Saturday.
The pair agreed female officials "don't know the offside rule" when they believed their microphones were off.
In a statement, Sky said the two men had apologised for the comments.
The Football Association has given its support to Ms Massey, 25, who made a correct borderline call in the build-up to Liverpool's first goal at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton.
Professional Game Match Officials
Speaking ahead of the match, Mr Keys said "somebody better get down there and explain offside to her" and Mr Gray remarked "women don't know the offside rule".
Mr Keys then said "of course they don't", before adding: "I can guarantee you there'll be a big one today. [Liverpool manager] Kenny [Dalglish] will go potty."
He then went on to remark on comments made by West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady in the Sun newspaper on Saturday morning about the level of sexism in football.
"See charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Yeah. Do me a favour, love," he said.
Sky said: "The comments are not acceptable. They were not made on air but we have spoken to Richard and Andy and told them our views and they have apologised and expressed their regret."
An FA statement said it had 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," it said.
Referees body Professional Game Match Officials issued a statement from their general manager Mike Riley.
It said: "All PGMO referees and assistant referees are appointed on merit and ability. They are assessed on their performances only."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12263398
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