The Mask Slips
I like Andy Gray as a football pundit - I don't know Richard Keys, but he's supposed to be a trained, professional journalist.
In any event these two Sky Sports broadcasters have been made to look completely ridiculous - because of their inane comments about women in football.
Both spoke in disparaging terms about a woman 'linesman' in a weekend fixture between Wolves and Liverpool - and were insulting about women in general and their ability to understand the laws of the game.
Before going on to insult Karren Brady - one of Alan Sugar's key advisers on the BBC's Apprentice programme and - ironically former chief executive of Birmingham City FC and current vice-chair of West Ham United!
Gray and Keys have since been forced to apologise for their remarks - and have been relieved of their duties for tonight's televised game between Bolton and Chelsea.
Good for Sky Sports - because these two gentlemen were at work when they made their stupid comments - and what they said deserves to be taken seriously.
When fellow commentator Ron Atkinson made an off-air racist remark a few years back - he was dropped like the proverbial hot potato - and the gaffe finished his TV career.
Sian Massey - the assistant referee and target of the sexist comments had the last laugh - because she got the biggest decision of the night absolutely right - which allowed Liverpool to score.
So the lesson is that casual prejudice has not gone away - it's alive and kicking in all walks of life - and in the most surprising places.
It's like discovering that some key figures in local councils - politicians, officials and trade union reps - don't really support equal pay, despite what they say publicly.
Which is why people need to stand up and challenge this kind of behaviour - wherever and whenever it raises its head.
In any event these two Sky Sports broadcasters have been made to look completely ridiculous - because of their inane comments about women in football.
Both spoke in disparaging terms about a woman 'linesman' in a weekend fixture between Wolves and Liverpool - and were insulting about women in general and their ability to understand the laws of the game.
Before going on to insult Karren Brady - one of Alan Sugar's key advisers on the BBC's Apprentice programme and - ironically former chief executive of Birmingham City FC and current vice-chair of West Ham United!
Gray and Keys have since been forced to apologise for their remarks - and have been relieved of their duties for tonight's televised game between Bolton and Chelsea.
Good for Sky Sports - because these two gentlemen were at work when they made their stupid comments - and what they said deserves to be taken seriously.
When fellow commentator Ron Atkinson made an off-air racist remark a few years back - he was dropped like the proverbial hot potato - and the gaffe finished his TV career.
Sian Massey - the assistant referee and target of the sexist comments had the last laugh - because she got the biggest decision of the night absolutely right - which allowed Liverpool to score.
So the lesson is that casual prejudice has not gone away - it's alive and kicking in all walks of life - and in the most surprising places.
It's like discovering that some key figures in local councils - politicians, officials and trade union reps - don't really support equal pay, despite what they say publicly.
Which is why people need to stand up and challenge this kind of behaviour - wherever and whenever it raises its head.
