Sexism row claims another scalp as Richard Keys quits

Published on Wednesday 26 January 2011 16:36

Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys joined his former colleague Andy Gray last night in losing his job over the football sexism row.

Keys announced his resignation just hours after he warned that "dark forces" were at work behind the scenes in the scandal and Gray was sacked by the broadcaster.

In a statement released by Sky Sports, Keys said: "I am deeply sorry for my remarks and the offence they have caused; it was wrong and should not have happened. I have thought long and hard and reached the decision that it is time to move on.

"Going forward without Andy would have been almost impossible. I am and will remain proud of our work with football at Sky Sports and grateful to the many people who have worked with me."

Earlier, former Scotland striker Gray apologised for his role in the row, saying he was "devastated by losing the job that I love".

Keys had hinted that he could be sacked over the furore.

The pair made sexist remarks about assistant referee Sian Massey before the Premier League game between Wolves and Liverpool at the weekend.

Sky Sports went on to fire former top striker Gray after new evidence of "unacceptable and offensive behaviour" emerged.

A statement released by Gray read: "I am very sorry that certain comments made by me have caused offence. Such comments were made off-air to work colleagues, and were, of course, never intended to be broadcast."

It continued: "Football is my life and I am devastated by losing the job that I love.

"I am equally upset that third parties have been dragged into this issue. I ask that the media respect their privacy so that they can continue in their roles.

"I have worked for Sky Sports loyally for over 20 years and I do not wish to comment further at this time."

Keys also apologised publicly for his remarks. Speaking on the TalkSport radio station, he said: "Our prehistoric banter is not acceptable in a modern world." He added: "We were wrong. It was wrong. It shouldn't have happened."

He said he was shocked by the "firestorm" caused by his comments but said he understood if they led to him also losing his job.

"Finding myself in the middle of something like this is most, most discomfiting for me."

He said he made an official apology to Massey on behalf of himself and Gray on Sunday afternoon.

"She and I enjoyed some banter together. We left on very good terms," he said. "I can't tell you any more about the conversation beyond saying she was in good spirits and I expressed my disappointment that Andy and I, misguidedly having a little fun, had got it wrong.

"There is no excuse anywhere for anybody to make any judgment on someone else's ability to do a job because they are male or female, it was wrong."

He claimed "dark forces" were at work behind the scenes.

He said that after apologising to Massey he had asked if he could publicise that his apology had been made and accepted.

The presenter said: "I was told no, and 24 hours passed by which time the world had gone mad. Now, I don't know why I was told no, I don't know why I was stopped from telling people that that's what I had done."

He insisted he had tried to ring West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady, who he also mentioned disparagingly in the off-air conversation with Gray.He said: "I tried to ring Karren twice on Sunday night, she didn't answer the phone. There is no answerphone so I texted her in case she saw a number she was unfamiliar with and didn't want to answer.

"I said 'Karren, it's Richard Keys, I very much need to talk to you, could you please take my call or ring me back'.

"Now, she chose not to, I don't know why. A by-product of all this, of course, is it took West Ham out of the press."

Sky Sports said on Tuesday it had terminated its contract with former Everton, Wolves and Aston Villa striker Gray.

It said the decision, effective immediately, was in response to new evidence of unacceptable and offensive behaviour.

Footage was shown on Sky News of Gray asking a female colleague to help him tuck his microphone into his trousers.

Gray, who reportedly earned 1.7 million a year, is shown asking presenter Charlotte Jackson: "Charlotte, can you tuck this down here for me?" She ignores the remark.