Letter: Good for game

WHAT prime ministers and television football pundits say when they think microphones are switched off can have devastating effects on their careers.

Would Gordon Brown today be the head of a coalition government if the altercation with Mrs Gillian Duffy last April had never occurred? Has soccer analyst Andy Gray been punished too severely for what appears to be downright sexism off the record (your report, 26 January)?

This business has been complicated by the fact Mr Gray is in dispute with News International over the controversial phone tapping ventures. But even if this was not the case, Sky has acted properly in dismissing him.

It is a continuing sign that football and society are changing that Mr Gray's misdemeanours are taken so seriously. This is business; customers make businesses successful; women are entitled to be treated as respected customers and participants in soccer; presenters who make antediluvian and offensive comments about them must, so to speak, pay the penalty.

The controversy surrounding assistant referee Sian Massey may have an important effect both north and south of the Border.

It may herald the start of an era where women are made to feel comfortable in football stadiums. We may look forward to women officiating and playing in games. It may mean higher attendances and higher television audiences, which can only work to the game's advantage.

Bob Taylor

Shiel Court

Glenrothes

I AM appalled (but not surprised) at the decision by Sky TV to sack football pundit Andy Gray because of remarks made by him about a female assistant referee; the people who made this decision obviously have no idea about the real world.

Perhaps Gray was wrong to make the comments about the ability of the female referee, particularly since her offside decision was proved later to be correct, but that is not a sacking offence. His colleague Richard Keys agreed with the original comments and he has only been reprimanded. Sky also cites comments made by Gray to a female colleague while being "miked up'" prior to a broadcast. Notably, the female colleague apparently made no complaint.

The only obvious difference here is that Richard Keys is not currently suing Rupert Murdoch's News International for alleged phone hacking. Like it or not, knockabout humour of various kinds exists in the workplace and comes from both men and women. The over-the-top action taken by Sky will not help; it will only breed resentment.

Brian Allan

Keith Street

Alloa

Clackmannanshire