The controversy surrounding comments by Sky Sports presenters Richard Keys and Andy Gray took a new twist on Tuesday when reporter Andy Burton was disciplined for referring to assistant referee Sian Massey as a "bit of a looker".
Burton was stood down from Wednesday night's Carling Cup semi-final second leg between Birmingham and West Ham after footage emerged of him remarking on the appearance of Massey.
It followed Sky Sports' decision to remove Keys and Gray from duty before Monday night's Barclays Premier League game between Bolton and Chelsea after both were recorded making off-air remarks about Massey.
Burton became implicated in the controversy after Sky Sports' sister station Sky News broadcast footage of a touchline conversation between him and Gray prior to Saturday's Premier League game between Wolves and Liverpool.
Keys and Gray were recorded before the same match questioning Massey's appointment for the fixture, claiming women "don't know the offside rule".
Sky Sports declined to comment on when the pair would be back fronting their football coverage.
The broadcaster insisted they had not been sacked for their disparaging remarks but was unable to confirm exactly when the duo - who have been the faces of the network's football coverage for two decades - would be back on the air.
Sky's next high-profile live match is Wednesday night's Carling Cup clash, but Keys and Gray tend not to front coverage of that particular competition.
With this weekend being the fourth round of the FA Cup, for which Sky do not hold the live rights, the next presenting opportunity for the pair would appear to be the Premier League match between West Brom and Wigan on Tuesday week.
Keys telephoned the official on Sunday night to apologise for his remarks, an apology which Massey has accepted.
Source: PA
