Thu, Jan 27, 2011 page19

• Sports commentator Andy Gray fired in soccer sexism row

  • AP, LONDON
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  One of British soccer’s leading television commentators was fired on Tuesday for “unacceptable behavior,” days after making sexist remarks about a female match official that sparked widespread debate about the role of women in the sport.

  Andy Gray, who has been the face of British broadcaster Sky Sports’ soccer coverage for the past two decades, was dismissed with immediate effect after evidence came to light of “unacceptable and offensive behavior” in an off-air incident last month.

  That emerged a day after the former Scotland striker and broadcast colleague Richard Keys were reprimanded and removed from duty for making derogatory comments about lineswoman Sian Massey, former referee Wendy Toms and West Ham executive Karren Brady.

  “Andy Gray’s contract has been terminated for unacceptable behavior,” Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis said. “After issuing a warning yesterday [Monday], we have no hesitation in taking this action after becoming aware of new information today.”

  Francis was referring to footage which appears to show Gray making a suggestive comment and gesture toward Sky Sports colleague Charlotte Jackson in the studio.

  The outspoken Gray, who was widely reported to be earning ￡1.7 million (US$2.7 million) a year from Sky, has made a name for himself with his forthright opinions — particularly on referees — and insight into soccer and for the way he embraced technology to revolutionize the way viewers saw the game.

  However, all the respect Gray had built up over the last 20 years was lost when he and Keys made disparaging remarks about Massey prior to a Premier League between Wolverhampton and Liverpool on Saturday.

  The 55-year-old Gray questioned whether Massey knew the offside rule — widely seen as a barometer of basic soccer knowledge — and made an abusive reference to Toms, saying she had been “hopeless” as a lineswoman. The remarks were leaked to a Sunday newspaper.

  Further footage which compromised Gray and another member of Sky Sports’ commentary team — Andy Burton — was also passed to the media on Monday.

  In that incident, Burton was talking to Gray off-air on the touchline prior at the same Wolves-Liverpool match and said: “Apparently a female lino today, bit of a looker.”

  Continuing to remark on Massey’s appearance, Burton, who has since been taken off air, added that another member of the Sky Sports crew said Massey was “all right.”

  “Now, I don’t know if I should trust his judgment on that?” Burton said.

  Gray replied: “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?”

  Gray hadn’t publicly apologized for his remarks, unlike Keys, who telephoned Massey on Monday.

  Sky hasn’t said when or if Keys will return to the air.
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