Sky sack Andy Gray

ONE of the most highly acclaimed pundits in football, Andy Gray has been sacked by Sky Sports after a weekend of shameful and inappropriate behaviour.  The ex-Wolves and Everton striker, 55, had his contract terminated tonight after more video footage appeared of lurid behaviour by the Scot.  

Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis confirmed the decision in a statement; “Andy Gray’s contract has been terminated for unacceptable behaviour.  After issuing a warning, we have no hesitation in taking this action after being aware of new information.”  Gray had been a lynchpin of Sky’s football coverage alongside Richard Keys and Martin Tyler for the past 20 years.

Today, video emerged of Gray and Keys preparing for the presentation of their Monday Night Football programme between Manchester City and Everton on December 20.  In the incriminating clip, Gray is seen to make suggestive comments to female colleague Charlotte Jackson.  He asks Charlotte to “tuck his shirt in,” in reference to a microphone wire.  It was crude and Jackson seemed unamused.  Yesterday, Andy, along with Richard were suspended by Sky Sports from presenting the MNF clash between Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea after they were recorded off-air making sexist comments about females in football.  They were aimed at line official Sian Massey and West Ham chief executive Karen Brady.  The unprofessional pair claimed that women did not understand the offside rule, which Massey would then prove wrong to them, by making a brilliant decision in allowing Raul Meireles to play on and set-up Fernando Torres for Liverpool’s first goal in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Wolves.

More video was released yesterday, which showed Gray continuing his tirade at Massey during a conversation with Sky Sports reporter Andy Burton, who has also been suspended for his part in the exchange.  Richard Keys future is still unclear with the broadcaster, although he telephoned Massey on Sunday night to apologise for his part in the comments.  Massey has accepted and is keen to move on from the controversy, which might mean that Keys gets a second chance.  Gray hasn’t made any public apologies since the news broke on Sunday, which might have played a part in his downfall.  Some Journalism students at the University of Northampton think that the action on the pundit has been harsh. 

Shane Scanlon said; “I find it all quite funny actually.  I know if I was caught offside by a female official, I’d react the same way as if it was a male in charge.  A fine and a suspension would have been enough punishment.”  Tamika Short agreed with this view; “Everyone is allowed their own opinion at the end of the day.  Yes, they should have had their microphones off, but if they had turned it off, no harm would have been done.”

Gray isn’t the first pundit to lose his job in these circumstances.  In 2004, Ron Atkinson resigned from his role as co-commentator at ITV Sport after being caught making an off-air racist remark about French defender Marcel Desailly.  Sky Sports Rodney Marsh lost his job a year later, for making a sick joke on the Asian tsunami on Gillette Soccer Saturday.

DISGRACED: Andy Gray's broadcasting career looks to be at an end

As Sky Sports attempt to find a long-term replacement for Andy Gray, the Scot now surely has to think of an alternative career as it is unlikely that another corporation will employ him due to his high wage demands and now, his appalling behaviour.  It is a sad and sorry end to a distinguished career in football, but Andy Gray only has himself to blame and had to pay the consequences for this string of incidents.