Source: Daily_Mail
Richard Keys and Andy Gray smug and sorry after 'sexist' jibe at Sian Massey
[LNB]Crossing the line: Sian Massey was the subject of an 'arrogant, sexist tirade' by Gray and Keys[LNB]Andy Gray and RichardKeys clearly think theyare experts in all mattersfootball, and you onlyhave to listen to theirsmug declarations and 'blokey'guffawing to see that 20 years asSky Sports 'kingpins' has donenothing to help their humility.[LNB]As a result, there will be few sympatheticcallers following their arrogant,sexist tirade; condemning a femalematch official when they thought theywere 'off mic'. [LNB]Their 'Gordon Brown moment' wasreleased by an unnamed source who, nodoubt, Gray and Keys will seek out. [LNB]Thatperson may be one of many who hasfinally had enough of the atmospherewhich prevails under Gray and Keys.[LNB]It must be very difficult for femalematch officials to progress in men's footballand any who do, do so on merit andshould be held up as role models, notsubjected to outdated, sexist attitudes. [LNB]Wendy Toms was the first woman torun the line in the Premier League anddid so very competently many times forme. [LNB]She had excelled in women's football,where performance and promotionare dealt with entirely separately frommen's football and so it is to her creditthat Toms was not content with topEuropean women's football; she wantedto prosper in the men's game. [LNB]At the start the facilities could lead tosome embarrassment at changing andshower time but top-flight clubs haveembraced the inclusion of female officialsand separate changing facilities are availableat all grounds. [LNB]It's a pity that thetwo highest profile and most experiencedTV employees have not brought themselvesup to speed. [LNB]CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO KEYS AND GRAY'S ATTACK ON SIAN MASSEY[LNB] Underfire: Sky Sports duo Richard Keys and Andy Gray [LNB]Sian Massey has dedicated herself togaining promotion in men's and women'sfootball rather like her role model, Toms. [LNB]She is already on the FIFA assistant referees'list in women's football and at just25 that is a magnificent achievement. [LNB]On Saturday, she performed exceptionallywell and, at the key moment in thegame, was perfectly positioned to allowRaul Meireles to continue on a forwardrun despite appearing to be offside. [LNB]Replays proved Ronald Zubar had playedMeireles 'on' and he squared the ball toFernando Torres who opened the scoringto settle Liverpool's nerves. [LNB] Massey herself will wish this incidenthad never happened and will want to geton with officiating without her genderbeing commented upon. [LNB]Hopefully, herperformance and demeanour will encourageothers to start officiating and at leastsome good can come from the unwarrantedcomments from two men whoshould know better. [LNB]The last time I had the temerity to criticiseKeys and Gray for their puerile andunfair attack on referee Uriah Rennie,Keys phoned me and abused me fordoing so. [LNB]He told me I was punchingabove my weight and he left me with theimpression I wasn't wanted at Sky. Thatshowed the man's true colours. [LNB]Between the two of them they preventfree speech and thought as any adversecomments are quashed by them. [LNB]Oh, by the way Richard, don't botherphoning me after this comment youropinions are of no interest to me.[LNB] HAVE YOUR SAY... Have you had enough of Keys and Gray after sexist tirade? Andy Gray and Richard Keys were forced to apologise after sexist off-air comments about assistant referee Sian Massey were made public. Sky's football presenters ridiculed Massey's ability to understand the offside law, despite he correct decisions. Is it time they were taken off-air, too? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK So, who is at the centre of all this controversy?Who is the female referee'sassistant at the centre ofthe Sky row? Sian Massey, who is one of onlytwo female officials operating as anassistant in the Barclays PremierLeague and npower Football League.She is also a level three referee,which allows her to take charge ofmatches in the Blue Square BetNorth and South. [LNB]Soundslike a tough gig. Whois the other female in thebusiness?Level Two referee Amy Fearn, whomade history last year by becomingthe first female to officiate in aFootball League game. Next stop:the Premier League. [LNB]Backto Sian, she's new tothis, isn't she? She's one of 853 female refereesoperating in the game from grassroots level to the Premier League.The Wolves-Liverpool clash onSaturday was her second PremierLeague match. She was the assistantreferee in Blackpool's 2-0 win overSunderland in December. [LNB]Whatelse is on her cv? During her career she has alsorefereed the FA Women's PremierLeague Cup final, FA Women's Cup,various women's internationalfixtures including the Women'sWorld Cup and European Championship and many FootballLeague matches. [LNB]Any controversies? Doesn't seem to be any. She hascome charging through the ranksand is destined for great things. [LNB]Wherecan we see herin action next? After a day in the Premier League,she's back to the lower leaguestomorrow. She'll be running the lineat Crewe, continuing her development.The appointment was made inadvance and we are told she will beback in the Premier League soon.[LNB] Sky Sports presenters Keys and Gray score an own goal as microphone picks up sexist diatribe against female linesman and West Ham chief Karren BradyWolves 0 Liverpool 3: Torres finds his touch to give Dalglish a kickstartLinogate - the fall-out begins: Sky say sorry as Andy Gray and Richard Keys foul up Explore more:People: Gordon Brown Places: Liverpool Organisations: Football League
