The disgraced duo left the broadcaster in dire circumstances following comments they made in 2011, but what do they say?
In January 2011, longtime Sky Sports commentators Richard Keys and Andy Gray were forced out of the broadcasting company after several tapes leaked in which the duo made derogatory and sexist comments about referee Sian Massey and other female figures in industry.
What exactly did the two say? Goal take a look.
What did Richard Keys and Andy Gray say to get fired?
Both men expressed their disapproval of women refereeing football matches, questioning their knowledge and skills.
In Liverpool’s 3-0 Premier League win over Wolves, when Massey made a tight offside decision that turned out to be quite correct in the video replay, Keys said, believing their microphones had been deactivated: “Someone better come down and explain the offside to his Massey.
“Yeah, I know. Can you believe this? Female linesman. Forget what I said – they probably don’t know the offside rule, ”Gray added.
“Of course they don’t,” Keys said.
Gray replied, “Why is there a linesman? Someone’s fucked up. “
Keys also commented on West Ham United Vice President Karren Brady’s diary column, saying: “The game has gone crazy. See the lovely Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Yeah. Do me a favor, my love. ”
Another tape has been revealed consisting of Gray crudely discussing Massey’s physical appearance with another colleague – Andy Burton.
Sky Sports and the FA condemned the comments, which led to Keys stepping down from his role and firing Gray.
Keys later said: “Prehistoric jokes are not acceptable in the modern world. I accept this. We have failed to change when the world has changed. We sincerely apologize for our behavior. It was wrong. I deserve to be beaten. I can take it. I’m not sorry for myself, I’m sorry for Sian Massey. “
Gray then said: “If the off-air conversations of TV and radio presenters were recorded, there would be no one at work. It’s not to defend what happened. ”
Keys tried to apologize one last time before his last hour-long show ended, saying, “One last time, sorry. Not for me. We were wrong. Bad.”
The statement was made in a last ditch attempt to save his job, but was not well received.
The Premier League confirmed Keys called Massey to apologize, but that didn’t stop him from continuing to blame the ordeal on ‘misguided fun’ and referencing ‘the guy’s humor mag’ , attributing it as normal in pubs, clubs and locker rooms across the country.
“There is no inherent sexism in Sky, nor in the sports department or the football department. There is a gym, a bit noisy as a locker room all over the country. It reflects what is happening in pubs and clubs, ”he told me.
“If you’re in a pub and a male guy is bothering someone at the bar, we don’t like it. There is an attitude that exists like that. If it starts to change that, that would make me happy. “
Keys and Gray finally signed a contract with Al Jazeera in June 2013, covering Qatar football where they comment on the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. The couple is now the flagship presenter of the BeIN Sports channels.
