Keys & Gray in Sexism Row

Tom84

Tom84

Tom84

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Sky Sports presenters Andy Gray and Richard Keys were at the centre of a sexism row last night after they questioned whether a female linesman knew the offside rule during a Premier League football match.

The commentators, who apparently believed their microphones were switched off, were recorded making disparaging remarks about Sian Massey, 25, before Liverpool’s Premiership clash with Wolves yesterday.

They also criticised Apprentice star and West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady who had yesterday written about sexism in a newspaper column.

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?’
Assistant referee Sian Massey

The Sky presenters made disparaging remarks about assistant referee Sian Massey

Later in the exchange, Mr Keys said: ‘The game’s gone mad. Did you hear charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Do me a favour, love.’

Ms Brady had said she had ‘experienced sexism at its rankest, lies about my personal life and a level of calculated mischief that is simply appalling’.

Asked about the pundits’ remarks, she said: ‘I think this just sums up everything I said in my column.’

During the game, which Liverpool won 3-0, Ms Massey angered Wolves by refusing to rule Raul Meireles offside before he set up Liverpool’s first goal. The replay showed that she made the correct decision.

When The Mail on Sunday put the transcript to Mr Keys, he said: ‘I have no recollection of that. I have no idea what you are talking about.

'My recollection is that I wished the young lady all the best.’

When told a recording existed of the conversation, he said: ‘If you have a tape then you don’t need me to talk to you.’

Last night The Mail on Sunday sent a transcript and a copy of the recording to a Sky Sports spokeswoman.

She was not able to confirm or deny the veracity of the clip, which was provided to this newspaper by an anonymous source.

Mr Gray could not be reached last night.
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...le-linesman-Apprentice-star-Karren-Brady.html

Couldn't see a thread for this or it posted in the weekend games thread, I didn't see the Sky football yesterday or today, was Keys and Gray on TV for the Blackburn/WBA game?
 
Oh my days, not this again.

Why can't people just accept that things get said in JEST.

Frankie Boyle gets away with it, as do many many others, why can't we just have a sense of humour :/
 
I'm of two minds on this one.

On the one hand, I really don't want the already heavily-PCed business of football commentary further dragged into the mire of generalised irrelevance, devoid of any actual original opinion or insight.

On the other hand, I really, really ****ing hate Andy Gray and Richard Keys.
 
I'm one who likes to avoid political correctness at all costs but if this is literally word for word what they've been saying then it looks pretty unprofessional and makes them look like uneducated morons in suits.

Not that it hasn't already been applied to Andy Gray many times before.
 
Richard Keys really is a ****. I've never liked him anyway and stuff like this just shows what a snivelling little asshat he really is. Especially with his desperate comments about only wishing the linesman the best and then upon being told they have the recording he just shut up. Hate the guy, truly can't stand him.
 
thepeganator said:
Oh my days, not this again.

Why can't people just accept that things get said in JEST.

Frankie Boyle gets away with it, as do many many others, why can't we just have a sense of humour :/
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Funny, I just listened to the audio file, and it sounds to me like the self-important Mr Keys is being completely serious/up his own arse.
 
thepeganator said:
Oh my days, not this again.

Why can't people just accept that things get said in JEST.

Frankie Boyle gets away with it, as do many many others, why can't we just have a sense of humour :/
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So it's ok for a couple of misogynist meat heads to slate these women based on their own prejudices and not on fact?

Football is laughable at the moment and needs a good revving up - still not using video refs, still full of morons taking dives to gain advantage (hell if a tackle is so bad that you fall over clutching your leg then you should get stretchered off!) and now it's shown that it's still a male dominated archaic 'sport' where it's ok to be openly sexist... Nice.

Frankie Boyle gets told off all the time and that's when it's blatantly in the guise of a commedian. When does it stop being 'jest' and suddenly become offensive sexism?
 
Keys is a shaved chimp in a suit. If this had been done is a jokingway they might have had some recourse, but after listening to that clip they both sound deadly serious as if they believe women have no part to play in officiating professional sport? :confused:
 
I'm not sure I see the issue with this. What was said, was said off air, it wasn't broadcast, it was merely leaked by someone who recorded what they were saying off air. To me, that would be a bit like someone taping what they are saying whilst chatting down the pub. Even on this forum we had some banter about her, its going to happen , just as it does about male nurses , female oil-rig workers and male midwives.

They are there to commentate and analyse the game (whether they do that well is a different question :) ) , not to embody political correctness and make sure they don't upset anyone. Some would say that the beauty of skys coverage (particularly soccer Saturday) is that its like watching the football with a bunch of normal guys. Normal guys do such things.
 
Tombstone said:
I'm not sure I see the issue with this. What was said, was said off air, it wasn't broadcast, it was merely leaked by someone who recorded what they were saying off air. To me, that would be a bit like someone taping what they are saying whilst chatting down the pub. Even on this forum we had some banter about her, its going to happen , just as it does about male nurses , female oil-rig workers and male midwives.

They are there to commentate and analyse the game (whether they do that well is a different question :) ) , not to embody political correctness and make sure they don't upset anyone. Some would say that the beauty of skys coverage (particularly soccer Saturday) is that its like watching the football with a bunch of normal guys. Normal guys do such things.
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Is that some sort of a justification? :confused:
 
I'd be disapointed to lose Andy Gray but I would love to see Richard Keys turfed out onto the street on his arse. He probably thought he'd got a job for life when Sky eventually started to charge for football and it became clear that Sky would forever dominate TV football coverage in this country. This is the sort of stuff people say when they think they are untouchable.

I expect grovelling apologies in the next live appearance but since Keys basically lied to the face of a reporter he is going to have the hardest time, Gray had the sense to be uncontactable, probably tipped off by Keys.. If it gets any political attention then they are probably both goners.
 
Not just untouchable, its also the sort of thing people say when they don't think they are being recorded. I certainly say negative things about work and work colleagues whilst down the pub with mates that I wouldn't say at work or to my work colleagues faces. As well as being embarrassed , I'd be quite angry too if someone recorded my personal conversation and played it back to people at work :)
 
no issue - may cause Sky a bit of embarrassment, but its unlikely to change anything

The Assistant ref just needs to continue being as accurate with her decision making and movement of the game as she was on Saturday , and hope she officiates more EPL games in the future
 
FrankJH said:
no issue - may cause Sky a bit of embarrassment, but its unlikely to change anything

The Assistant ref just needs to continue being as accurate with her decision making and movement of the game as she was on Saturday , and hope she officiates more EPL games in the future
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Indeed, she did very well. I think one of the bad things about all this media coverage on this issue is that it will now put the spotlight on her even more. The media will be casting a harsh eye on her every match now , waiting for the inevitable bad decision and then pinning her to the cross. Whereas I think if the story hadn't become a story, she probably would have remained essentially anonymous and under no more scrutiny than normal. Sometimes the better course of action is to ignore rather than highlight.
 
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