to think that Sky Sports should sack Andy Gray and Richard Keys for this blatant sexism....

[theexample]

I know a lot of you don't like football but there was a female assistant referee officiating the game between Wolves and Liverpool yesterday. 2 of Sky Sports' main announcers/commentators were caught off camera (but with the mics still turned on, unbeknownst to them) making these remarks...

i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/01_04/sky.mp3

As a man, I can honestly say she did a good job and a lot of us on The Football Ramble forum believe Keys and Gray were out of order. What is the female perspective?

Here is a short transcript.

?Somebody better get down there and explain offside to her,? said Keys.

?Can you believe that? A female linesman. Women don?t know the offside rule,? said Gray.

Keys replied ?Course they don?t. 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?? And then he added ?The game?s gone mad. Did you hear charming [West Ham vice-chairwoman] Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Do me a favour, love.?

Thankyou Claig
Agree pascoe-a complete over-reaction.

Pascoe - Sky are protecting themselves. What Gray said falls foul of the basics of anti-discrimination laws.

Would you feel the same if the comments were about a racial group rather than women? Try replacing the word 'women' with 'black' or 'paki', in what he said.

Gray is odious and it's right he's been sacked. The real story here is that Richard Keys has been given a lifeline and Gray has been stitched up. I agree it is probably to do with his allegations against the News of the World.

Re the priority attached to this story: the media love a media story. The BBC - who are consistently criticised by all arms of the Murdoch empire - must be pissing themselves laughing. The Telegraph and Mail - both anti-Murdoch - have been running this all week.

But the mystery is, who had access to the Sky tapes and who released it? Cui bono?

Claig: Murdoch's.

He wanted Gray off the payroll. The anti-discrimination stance is a smokescreen.

Probably any of the women at Sky who have been on the receiving end of AG's charm perhaps? And not Richie, he's one of the girls cos he waxes.

Yes there is a lot more to this behind the headlines.

I am aware my POV has, er, changed developed this evening.

I can see why a company would take action against an employee making discriminatory comments. But I don't believe Sky are, in this instance, because they gave only gone after Gray.

Had they sacked Keys, I'd be more inclined to believe they were genuinely anti-discrimination.

What is really rubbish is that the poor woman linesman is not being allowed to ref the next match because of the controversy. Through no fault of her own.

What is wrong with a bit of banter at the football? If the lineswoman is going to get upset about it, she's in the wrong job. It's very mild compared to much of the abuse that officials get.

Not read the thread but just wanted to add a jubilant cheer for the sacking.

A bit of banter Rob? Banter, last time I checked, was two way joking - not two people saying that someone couldn't do their job due to their genitals.

*someone who wasn't there to answer back

robf what did you feel about the various racist abuse that footballers have received over recent years?

Rob, the lines-woman hasn't got upset. She's said nothing, afaik. It's the public who have, including men, although tbf a lot castigating AG for just how rubbish he is. Interesting how this story's played in the USA where women's football thrives.

There is NO WAY THat this TV channel is anti discriminatory fred

I also believe there's more to this story than meets the eye - interesting timing re: the court case with News of the World

But no matter the reasons for it being released, what, should I feel better that they only link a professional's competence with what genitals are in their shorts?

Doesn't matter to me exactly who they've pissed off to deserve this getting to newspapers, etc. They still said it, they still meant it, and you can tell by the tone it's not a joke.

A shame for Sky to sack him for their own agenda using this as a convenient cover. But it doesn't detract from the fact that I want my little girl to grow up thinking she can do anything, be anything, if she can pass the professional exams/training in whatever field she chooses to dedicate her life to.

What kind of mother or father can put their hands on their heart and claim otherwise?

I'm glad hes had the sack for the ignorant sexist comments..Sky sports should set a good example against these idiots and give their jobs to female presenters.Preferably ones with big boobies.

Now that has now come to light i hope that we will see the back of Richard Keys too.

Keys is unpleasant

He's talking about a girl that Jamie Redknapp used to go out with I think and asking whether he smashed her.

the 'it' is the woman he is with. I have never heard the term used before, but I can imagine what it means and it is a derogatory way of talking about it.