Female assistant referee Sian Massey during the Barclays Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at Molineux on January 22, 2011 in Wolverhampton, England.Mark Thompson
So much for equality.
While the Premier League has transformed the face of English soccer over the last 19 years, elevating the skill, finances and worldwide exposure of the country's most popular game, two of the league's original TV personalities seem intent on dragging the sport back to "prehistoric" times, as England captain Rio Ferdinand put it.
Not only were former Everton striker-turned-pundit Andy Gray and presenter Richard Keys wide of the mark with their sexist comments about lineswoman Sian Massey and women in general, but they've embarrassed the largely male-dominated profession of sports journalism. Worse still, their remarks come just days after a meeting of senior European soccer figures, brought together at the behest of Uefa and the Football Association, came to the conclusion that the sport is "institutionally sexist" and run by self-perpetuating "old boys' club."
On seeing that Massey had been appointed to run the line for Liverpool's 3-0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers last Saturday, Keys and Gray - who thought their microphones were switched off - questioned whether the 25-year-old official knew the ins and outs of the offside rule and felt "the game's gone mad" for allowing female officials.
Gray also took a shot at former official Wendy Toms, who became the Premier League's first female assistant referee in the late 90s, calling her "fucking hopeless as well," while Keys took aim at West Ham executive Karren Brady, married to former Canadian national team striker Paul Peschisolido, who wrote a column revealing her experiences as a victim of sexual discrimination in the game. "See charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism?" Keys said. "Yeah. Do me a favour, love."
Unaware of the prejudice being aimed in her direction, Massey - officiating just her second Premier League game - actually performed admirably, pouring cold water on her supposed lack of knowledge of the offside rule with a perfectly correct decision in the buildup to Liverpool's first goal.
Keys and Gray, meanwhile, were both originally suspended by their employer Sky Sports on Monday for an indefinite period, but Gray had his contract terminated on Tuesday in the wake of "new evidence of unacceptable and offensive behaviour."
Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis said, "Andy Gray's contract has been terminated for unacceptable behaviour. After issuing a warning yesterday, we have no hesitation in taking this action after becoming aware of new information today."
At the centre of the dismissal is the following footage from last month showing Gray making sexist comments to a female co-presenter before they went on air:
It's not the first time that outlandish comments have ended up costing a media personality his position either. Ron Atkinson, the former Manchester United and Aston Villa manager, resigned from British broadcaster ITV in 2004 following an on-air racial slur aimed at the former black Chelsea player Marcel Desailly, with Atkinson also thinking his microphone was turned off.
Scottish dominance
Admittedly, with the hardship being suffered by many Scottish clubs, twinned with the failure of the national team to qualify for a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup, the headline might seem a little far-fetched. Not in the Premier League dugouts, however.
With the recent appointments of Kenny Dalgish at Liverpool for the second time and Steve Kean taking over at Dalglish's former club Blackburn, the number of Scottish managers in the division is up to six, the highest of all nationalities and two more than England, which currently boast four bosses in the top flight.
In head to heads between the six, Everton boss David Moyes and Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson lead the way with one points and three draws each.
|
|
Games |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
Points |
|
David Moyes (Everton) |
4 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
|
Alex Ferguson (Man U) |
4 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
|
Owen Coyle (Bolton) |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Alex McLeish (Birmingham) |
4 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool) |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Steve Kean (Blackburn) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Source: The Times, London
Weekend Warrior
With Wayne Rooney continuing to struggle for the form that set the Premier League on fire last year, Manchester United is lucky it can fall back on Dimitar Berbatov to pick up the goal-scoring slack. The Bulgarian front man registered his third hat trick of the season, and now leads the league with 17 goals this term, which have been crucial in keeping the Red Devils on top of the pile and seemingly on course for a 19th English league crown.
He Said It
"If I could have made 10 changes at half-time I would, believe me."
Roberto Martinez
Wigan Athletic manager after seeing his team completely outplayed at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal was held to just one goal in the first half all thanks to the brilliance of goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.
By the Numbers
3
Number of hat tricks scored so far this season by Manchester United forward Dimitar Berbatov, just the fourth time in Premier League history that three of more three-goal hauls have been bagged by a player in a single season. Alan Shearer, twice, and Ruud van Nistelrooy are the others.
On seeing that Massey had been appointed to run the line for Liverpool's 3-0 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers last Saturday, Keys and Gray - who thought their microphones were switched off - questioned whether the 25-year-old official knew the ins and outs of the offside rule and felt "the game's gone mad" for allowing female officials.
Gray also took a shot at former official Wendy Toms, who became the Premier League's first female assistant referee in the late 90s, calling her "fucking hopeless as well," while Keys took aim at West Ham executive Karren Brady, married to former Canadian national team striker Paul Peschisolido, who wrote a column revealing her experiences as a victim of sexual discrimination in the game. "See charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism?" Keys said. "Yeah. Do me a favour, love."
Unaware of the prejudice being aimed in her direction, Massey - officiating just her second Premier League game - actually performed admirably, pouring cold water on her supposed lack of knowledge of the offside rule with a perfectly correct decision in the buildup to Liverpool's first goal.
Keys and Gray, meanwhile, were both suspended by their employer Sky Sports for an indefinite period, and a poll on the Guardian website reveals that 71 per cent of participants feel that the comments should cost the pair their jobs.
Should that come to pass, it wouldn't be the first time that outlandish comments have ended up costing a media personality his position either. Ron Atkinson, the former Manchester United and Aston Villa manager, resigned from British broadcaster ITV in 2004 following an on-air racial slur aimed at the former black Chelsea player Marcel Desailly, with Atkinson also thinking his microphone was turned off.
Scottish dominance
Admittedly, with the hardship being suffered by many Scottish clubs, twinned with the failure of the national team to qualify for a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup, the headline might seem a little far-fetched. Not in the Premier League dugouts, however.
With the recent appointments of Kenny Dalgish at Liverpool for the second time and Steve Kean taking over at Dalglish's former club Blackburn, the number of Scottish managers in the division is up to six, the highest of all nationalities and two more than England, which currently boast four bosses in the top flight.
In head to heads between the six, Everton boss David Moyes and Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson lead the way with one points and three draws each.
|
Games |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
Points |
|
|
David Moyes (Everton) |
4 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
|
Alex Ferguson (Man U) |
4 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
|
Owen Coyle (Bolton) |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Alex McLeish (Birmingham) |
4 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool) |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Steve Kean (Blackburn) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Source: The Times, London
Weekend Warrior
With Wayne Rooney continuing to struggle for the form that set the Premier League on fire last year, Manchester United is lucky it can fall back on Dimitar Berbatov to pick up the goal-scoring slack. The Bulgarian front man registered his third hat trick of the season, and now leads the league with 17 goals this term, which have been crucial in keeping the Red Devils on top of the pile and seemingly on course for a 19th English league crown.
He Said It
"If I could have made 10 changes at half-time I would, believe me."
Roberto Martinez
Wigan Athletic manager after seeing his team completely outplayed at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal was held to just one goal in the first half all thanks to the brilliance of goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.
By the Numbers
3
Number of hat tricks scored so far this season by Manchester United forward Dimitar Berbatov, just the fourth time in Premier League history that three of more three-goal hauls have been bagged by a player in a single season. Alan Shearer, twice, and Ruud van Nistelrooy are the others.