Prehistoric presenters

You've got to be very careful what you say (or write) these days. Hardly a week goes by without some famous figure getting in bother for making controversial comments in an interview or on social networking medium such as Twitter. Everything is scrutinised and, once the media, gets a whiff of it, it snowballs.



This week's Kings of the Gaffe are former footballer-turned-analyst Andy Gray and former bland breakfast telly anchorman-turned-number-one-footy-presenter Richard Keys.



The pair were at Molineux on Saturday lunchtime for Sky Sports' coverage of the Wolves v Liverpool game and, before kick-off, talking off air but still being recorded, made sexist comments about women officials in football.



The main target was Sian Massey, who was one of the female assistant referees on Saturday, but another official, Wendy Toms (who was the first female Premier League referee) and West Ham's vice chairman Karren Brady, also got honourable mentions!



Some insider got hold of the recordings and made them public - and Gray and Keys have ended up with faces the same colour as the Liverpool shirts. The duo have been widely criticised by a variety of people in the game and were relieved of their duties for this evening's Sky match.



In truth, the broadcasters' views are nothing new for football; women have had a rough time for a while. In 1999, Gordon Strachan was outraged about Toms' decisions for a match involving his team (and mine - and Richard Keys'!) Coventry City, saying that the FA was being politicially correct for the sake of it and that she simply wasn't good enough.



Luton manager Mike Newell said something similar about Amy Rayner four years ago (calling it 'tokenism') and got hit with a £6,000 fine. Off the pitch Jacqui Oatley, received a very mixed reaction when she became BBC's Match of the Day's first commentator in 2007.



But, it's a real shame that, in 2011, we've not moved on from the negative, unhelpful and even spiteful comments from the past. More and more girls and women are enjoying football - it's no longer solely a man's domain. A third of all new Premier League football fans in the last five years are of the female variety.



Now, I'm not saying female referees and assistants should be spared the criticism that their male counterparts regularly get (no matter how bitter and unsporting this actually is) but the thoughts of people like Keys and Gray do nothing to help promote equality not just in sport but in society in general. It's like they are stuck in a timewarp.



Everyone and anyone, no matter their gender (or race or background for that matter), should have the opportunity to reach the level they desire in life. And if they are good enough - and Sian Massey is proving how competent she is - they should be supported, encouraged and treated in the same manner as anyone else.



Given the negative comments and prehistoric opinions in certain quarters, perhaps football is in need of a anti-sexism drive in the same vein as the successful 'Kick racism out of football' campaign?



Just as people hopefully now don't think twice about separating skin colour when it comes to footballers, so those in the game of football need to stop treating women as second class citizens.



I think the best outcome for this would be to stick a few female presenters in front of the camera for Sky Sports' next coverage - while Mssrs Keys and Gray 'run the line' for the match... assuming they're fit enough to keep up!

(Image credit: Zawtowers)