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.?

It makes me sad that some women do not see what is wrong with these comments, maybe they have just been brain washed by their OH's into thinking that this sort of behaviour is ok. Let's face it, some women have to put up with a lot worse in their own homes.

BTW, have you seen some of the comments on the story on the Daily Mail site?!!

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1350067/Andy-Gray-Richard-Keys-suspended-Bolton-v-Chelsea-sexist-rant.html

news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Sky-Sports-Andy-Burton-Is-Taken-Off-Air-Over-Sexist-Comments-About-A-Female-Match-Official/Article/201101415910354?lpos=UK_News_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15910354_Sky_Sports_Andy_Burton_Is_Taken_Off_Air_Over_Sexist_Comments_About_A_Female_Match_Official

Reporter Andy Burton has been suspended now also.

"Keys has since called Miss Massey to apologise."

Well of course he would, he's trying to protect his reputation!

i'm sure he'd say anything to hope the storm dies down a bit. still doesn't change what he thinks of professionally trained, highly competent women operating in the field of football

I dont dispute women can be as sexist as men but what bothers me here is that her ability to do her job and her professional integrity was questioned - simply because of her sex, plain wrong. I dont understand the off side rule - but I dont have to, she does as its her job.

I'd agree. And I think what's getting most people is the tone. If they had been acting stupidly and saying it in an ironic/blokey joke way while it wouldn't have been acceptable it would have been more easily explained as a bit of stupid humour away from screen which while ill advised may not have been intended to be malicious.
As it is they are completely cold and it's clear that somehow they honestly believe the shit they're saying.
The other reporter Andy Burton would get a degree of sympathy from me, he's just talking about whether or not him and some others rate someone as good looking in what he believes to be a private moment. While he may not be using the most commendable language I'd fear for the work force if anyone who was found discussing another persons attractoveness with colleagues was to be disciplined.

She wouldn't have been given the job if she didn't know the off-side rule fgs, as a woman she's under so much pressure to get decisions right that she'd have to know it and some. That's the problem for women in sport, they're under the microscope so much more than men and any mistake they may make is 'because she's a woman' & not because she's human. we're all capable of making mistakes ( not that she did make any ) being female isn't a prerequisite for getting a decisions wrong sometimes. Male refs get decisions wrong all the time....

Blimey, Andy Gray sacked for new evidence of sexism. Fair play Sky Sports.

that was quick clams! :)

Really?

Oh no sbsk my addiction to rolling news has been outed:) And Sian Massey has withdrawn herself from the match tonight. In other news it is cloudy and the weather forecast is bad.

lol, a shared addiction!!

took a while for the damn thread to load though!!

Was Andy Gray's comments purely based on that recording or has something new come to light? I thought they'd just get suspended and told off...

What else has he done, then?

Gender has nothing to do with football, I was so impressed with some of the comment on JV today.

From BBC website news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9373280.stm

I'm sure it will all come out in the wash at some point...

what a shame the hysterical PC mob get their own way again :(

I am so glad they've actually sacked him, my opinion of them has just shot up!

clevercloggs Yes, it's such a shame that people aren't allowed to act unprofessionally at work

Agree with several of you re: the tone of what was said. It was not banter, it was not a joke , they were genuinely riled. They really believe what they were saying.

"hysterical PC mob"? Fuck off to that, clevercloggs the troll or idiot - i'm not sure which. Having a penis doesn't make you more capable of understanding supposedly complex rules and regulations.

clevercloggs - Oh yes, it's PC gorn mad

brilliant. Hopefully they'll get some new blood in who won't sycophantically lick up to the players. But it's sky so they won't. It will be more of the same lowest common denominator bull shit

CC; This is not the 'PC mob' in action ( trust me on that one) I have two dd's who have been playing football since they were 6 - it's part of their life, and they're well used to hearing jokey sexist comments ( although luckily not that many) This is about two slimy cowards on million pound contracts who degraded a female professional and that's just not on. I'd like to see Richard Keys ref a premier league game - the little gobshite