Andy Gray sacked by Sky for offensive behaviour

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Andy Gray sacked by Sky for offensive behaviour

Post by klr » Tue Jan 25, 2011 5:23 pm

There is a God! One of the most annoying and inept soccer pundits ever to blight television finally gets his marching orders, over making sexist remarks. :{D

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9373280.stm
Sky has sacked football presenter Andy Gray with immediate effect.

The pundit had already been disciplined for sexist comments made about female referee Sian Massey before Saturday's match between Wolves and Liverpool.

The 55-year-old and colleague Richard Keys were stood down for Monday's match between Bolton and Chelsea.

And on Tuesday, Sky Sports said it had terminated Gray's contract "in response to new evidence of unacceptable and offensive behaviour".

Sky's statement continued: "The new evidence, relating to an off-air incident that took place in December, 2010, came to light after Andy Gray had already been subjected to disciplinary action for his comments of 22 January, 2011."

The new footage, which was recorded last month but only came to light in the last 24 hours, appears to show Gray making a suggestive comment towards colleague Charlotte Jackson, who does not openly react while he and Keys then burst out laughing.

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."

Massey, meanwhile, has been withdrawn from her duties as an assistant referee for Tuesday's League Two game between Crewe and Bradford.

The furore began on Saturday when Keys and Gray, believing their microphones were switched off, were recorded saying that Massey and other female assistant referees "did not know the offside rule".

Keys has since called Massey, who has accepted the broadcaster's apology.

However, new footage emerged on Monday of Gray talking off-air with Sky Sports' pitchside reporter Andy Burton about Massey.

Sky News reported that the pair discussed Massey's appearance, with Burton referring to Massey as "a bit of a looker" while Gray asks: "What do women know about the offside rule?"

Earlier on Tuesday it was announced that Burton was "spoken to and warned" about his remarks and that he will not be involved in Sky's coverage of Wednesday's Carling Cup tie between Birmingham and West Ham.

Gray and Keys have been the face of Sky Sports football coverage since the satellite broadcaster started showing English top-flight matches in 1992.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's Premier League game, Keys added: "Somebody better get down there and explain offside to her."

Gray, a former Scotland international and striker with Aston Villa, Wolves and Everton, quipped: "Women don't know the offside rule."

The comments from Gray and Keys have been widely criticised in football circles, with England captain Rio Ferdinand and West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady voicing their disapproval.

Tottenham director Donna Cullen believes opinions towards females in football have changed in recent years and that Massey had earned the right to officiate a Premier League match.

"In a male-dominated sport you are always going to get the odd remark, but in more than 20 years of working in football I cannot say sexist remarks like that have ever been an issue for me," she said.

"I believe I am treated as an honorary male in football, and I don't believe being female has anything to do with my work. "Things have changed a lot. Twenty years ago some clubs did not find it acceptable to have female directors in the boardroom, but that has changed enormously."

Former England women's cricket captain Rachel Heyhoe-Flint was one of the few to offer public support to Keys and Gray, describing their exchange as "banter".

"I know Richard and Andy very well indeed," she told BBC Radio 5 live. "These were tongue-in-cheek comments and we are blowing something enormously out of proportion here."

The sexism debate even cropped up in Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish's news conference on Monday.

At the start, Dalglish jokingly asked Sky's male reporter whether he minded that there was a woman present.

The Scot's daughter Kelly, a former presenter on Sky Sports News, joked on her Twitter account: "Phew, am exhausted. Just read about something called 'the offside rule'. Too much for my tiny brain. Must be damaged from nail polish fumes."
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Re: Andy Gray sacked by Sky for offensive behaviour

Post by Mallardz » Tue Jan 25, 2011 5:25 pm

Women you belong on your knees, on your back or in the kitchen.
You can't work, you can't drive and you'll never be able to play Soccer!
Ratz it's more addictive than facebook and more fun than crack!

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Re: Andy Gray sacked by Sky for offensive behaviour

Post by klr » Tue Jan 25, 2011 5:27 pm

Mallardz wrote:Women you belong on your knees, on your back or in the kitchen.
You can't work, you can't drive and you'll never be able to play Soccer!
Rationalia disassociates itself from this remark ... :shifty:
God has no place within these walls, just like facts have no place within organized religion. - Superintendent Chalmers

It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner

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Re: Andy Gray sacked by Sky for offensive behaviour

Post by Mallardz » Tue Jan 25, 2011 5:31 pm

klr wrote:
Mallardz wrote:Women you belong on your knees, on your back or in the kitchen.
You can't work, you can't drive and you'll never be able to play Soccer!
Rationalia disassociates itself from this remark ... :shifty:
What you going to do fire me?
Ratz it's more addictive than facebook and more fun than crack!

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Re: Andy Gray sacked by Sky for offensive behaviour

Post by klr » Tue Jan 25, 2011 5:33 pm

Mallardz wrote:
klr wrote:
Mallardz wrote:Women you belong on your knees, on your back or in the kitchen.
You can't work, you can't drive and you'll never be able to play Soccer!
Rationalia disassociates itself from this remark ... :shifty:
What you going to do fire me?
You don't work for us. Neither do I, for that matter. :eddy:

Poor old Andy ... :hehe: ... methinks Sky were not overly displeased to suddenly find that they had a reason to sack him. About 20 years too late IMHO.
God has no place within these walls, just like facts have no place within organized religion. - Superintendent Chalmers

It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner

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Re: Andy Gray sacked by Sky for offensive behaviour

Post by Mallardz » Tue Jan 25, 2011 5:48 pm

I'd just like to express I am not a sexist man and do not believe the previous statements.
It's just funny.
Ratz it's more addictive than facebook and more fun than crack!

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Re: Andy Gray sacked by Sky for offensive behaviour

Post by klr » Thu Jan 27, 2011 12:36 pm

A past gaffe by Richard Keys:

God has no place within these walls, just like facts have no place within organized religion. - Superintendent Chalmers

It's not up to us to choose which laws we want to obey. If it were, I'd kill everyone who looked at me cock-eyed! - Rex Banner

The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression. - Gary Larson

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