Can someone explain this to me?

[denorios]

So Sky have fired Andy Gray after further evidence of sexist behaviour has come to light, which...good. Good. It's about time people took sexism as seriously as they take racism or homophobia, because it's every bit as prevalent and probably even more 'socially acceptable'. Whether you intend it as a joke or not is irrelevant

Comments

[slavelabour]

I would say it's because they want to keep her safe from the backlash without advertising it as such. I've ref'd for men's ice hockey as a hobby (my husband was playing with their beer league at the time but I never officiated when he was on the ice) and there were a few times guys would disagree with my calls because I was a woman. Funny how they never complained when the calls were in their favour. Anyway, not to put too fine a point on it but there was one instance that got nasty because one of the guys got in my face and started yelling at a call, threatening me. Another player jumped on him because 'you don't talk like that to a woman' and everything went to hell, other players jumped in, and police were involved. I didn't last there much longer nor one of my friends (who was the only other female ref) because there are only so many times you can get hit with a puck and it be called an accident. I didn't need to kill myself for a hobby, yknow? I feel for Sian because this is her job.

[denorios]

I don't know, I don't think there'd be so much of a backlash for her. Everyone seems to be on her side, as far as I can see. And even if it is for her benefit, would they do the same for a male referee? I don't think they would. If they're 'protecting' her, then isn't that a little patronising?

[slavelabour]

It is patronising which is why they would be better off not advertising it as, well, being patronising. :) Misdirection and a little spin and it's not surprising something smells bad. Being on her side is the right thing to do, publicly, professionally, politically, but she's going to have detractors, even if they are sneaky hide-in-plain-sight bastards like Andy Gray, and this spotlight might lead to dissension among the ranks of the players. The sport is a business and money is the bottom line and the players are worth money while the refs, sadly, are easier to replace. Especially if people see them as being more trouble than they're worth, sigh. I'm agreeing with you about how you feel but the only person who really knows what she's going through and what this is costing is Sian. I wish her the best.

[nebula99]

Agreed. I can't understand why Sian Massey isn't allowed to be out there, showing how she can do her job.

Gray and Keys are idiots and I don't get why Keys hasn't been fired too.