Richard Keys and Andy Gray: a sexist joke too far

Five days have passed since the story first escalated after developments plateaued on Wednesday when Richard Keys resigned from his presenter's job at Sky Sports a day after his colleague and pundit Andy Gray was sacked from the station.

You could sense that when the media coverage exploded their days were numbered. The Sky Sports duo initially caused furore from many figures within the game (not least Karren Brady) when slamming the performance of Sian Massey, the assistant referee for Wolves' game against Liverpool earlier this month, suggesting on the basis of her gender. For Gray, it was a stay of execution. After clinging onto his £2m annual pay packet two days after this development unravelled, Sky Sports' managing director Barney Francis called time on the Scot's career with the broadcaster when finding new evidence of suggestive sexist comments.

"Can you tuck this (his mic) for me?," Gray asked Sky Sports News presenter Charlotte Jackson. Initially smirking, the young presenter seemed perturbed after. According to the Guardian, the presenters are known to be chauvinistic towards colleagues behind the camera, possibly the reason why the assumed Sky staff member posted two videos of Gray and Keys making lewd comments liking women as inferior, sexual objects. It was the final straw, like killing off the opposition with another goal in injury time to seal their fate.

Keys also resigned under constant media barraging, notably also because of his comments towards former Liverpool and Tottenham player, now Sky pundit, Jamie Redknapp. Referring to his former girlfriend 'Louise' as 'it', Keys said, "you'd smash it...you could've gone round there any night and found Redknapp hanging out at the back of it."

Key on Wednesday came to TalkSport's studio discussing his embarrassment and his apathy towards Massey. His body language reminisce someone who had been caught with their trousers down, much like Gordon Brown last year when he called a female OAP a 'bigot' with his mic from Sky left switched on as he rued to tell the tale on Radio 4.

Whilst it is clear to see the two have a good chemistry on camera, they sadly lack decency off it. Gray and Keys have a depth of knowledge to rival any other broadcasting duos. It is unfathomable to hear comments of viciousness and conviction of Massey, who actually had a good game.

While some may defend this as a bit of 'banter', it can be assumed either or both of them have made more similar comments off camera. As if Sky Sports haven't had enough critical comments about their widespread coverage of bias and repetition, and hiring very attractive women for its news channel. There is a culture in Sky and to an extent in the football game that women are not taken seriously when discussing or officiating about the game. This is a sad indictment that we are seemingly heading back into the dark ages of the one race, one gender game.