After suspending commentators Richard Keys and Andy Gray for derogatory comments regarding a female match official, Sky Sports took the ultimate step Tuesday andfired Gray.
Sky Sports’ managing director Barney Francis cited new evidence of similar behavior by Gray in announcing the decision.”Andy Gray’s contract has been terminatedfor unacceptable behavior,” said Francis. “After issuing a warning yesterday, we have no hesitation in taking this action after becoming aware of new information today.”
Off-air comments byGray and Keys about referee’s assistant Sian Massey that became public triggered a firestorm of controversy. Keys apologized to Massey in a phone call Sunday night. A thirdcommentator, Andy Burton, was suspended for remarks he made to Gray regarding Massey prior to kickoff of the Wolverhampton-Liverpool game Saturday. “What do women know about theoffside rule?” was one of Gray’s comments. A former Scottish international, Gray has been a commentator since ending his playing career in 1990. He worked for ESPN during the 2008 EuropeanChampionships.
The Daily Mirror reported on and posted a video of Gray making a lewd remark to colleague CharlotteJackson, whom he invites to “tuck that in for me” while fiddling with his pants in the Monday Night Football studio last December.