Should these two lose their jobs?
| 13:47 UK time, Monday, 24 January 2011
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**THIS BLOG POST CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE WHICH MAY OFFEND**
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Here's a transcript of a conversation about female assistant referees in football. It's between main football anchor Richard Keys and their star pundit (and former Everton and Scotland striker) Andy Gray. You can hear an edit of the exchange here. It wasn't broadcast on Sky, but it was recorded and leaked. Neither has been sacked.
Former Manchester United manager and pundit Ron Atkinson by UK broadcaster ITV after saying, "He's what is known in some schools as a fucking lazy thick nigger". He thought he wasn't live.
So do we have one rule for racism, and another for sexism? Or do the comparisons not work? Is this no more than banter which warrants a ticking off and no more?
What's your experience in the work place? Are comments about women allowed to pass in a way that comments about skin colour or sexuality never would?
A LITTLE CONTEXT BEFORE YOU READ THE TRANSCRIPT
Karen Brady is a senior official at West Ham Football Club and has a high profile newspaper column.
Kenny Dalglish is the new Liverpool manager.
The money paid by Sky Sports for rights to the English Premier League (EPL) has revolutionised the game since the early 90s. Sky broadcasts much more of the action than anyone else, and it's fair to say that the success of Sky Sports and of the EPL have, to a great extent, been intertwined
THE TRANSCRIPT
Richard Keys: Well, somebody better get down there and explain offside to her.
Andy Gray: Yeah, I know. Can you believe that? Female linesman. Forget what I said - they probably don't know the offside rule.
RK: Course they don't.
AG: Why is there a female linesman? Somebody's fucked up big.
RK: I can guarantee you there'll be a big one today. Kenny will go potty. This is not the first time. Didn't we have one before?
AG: Yeah.
RK: Wendy Toms.
AG: Wendy Toms, something like that. She was fucking hopeless as well.
Then things become inaudible for a little while then...
RK: No, no, it's got to be done, it's good. The game's gone mad. See charming Karen Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Yeah. Do me a favour, love.
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The latest on this is that Sky Sports has said the two will not be on air at tonight's Chelsea game and that they have apologised.
