Updated 4.23pm
SKY SPORTS HAVE sacked Andy Gray this afternoon.
With the football pundit already at the centre of a sexism row, the station says that ‘new evidence of unacceptable and offensive behaviour’ came to light.
They tweeted, tersely, in the past hour: ‘Andy Gray leaves Sky Sports’.
Sky Sports’ managing director Barney Francis said he had “no hesitation” in summarily terminating Gray’s contract. He added:
Andy Gray’s contract has been terminated for unacceptable behaviour. After issuing a warning yesterday, we have no hesitation in taking this action after becoming aware of new information today.
Sky said in a statement that the new evidence related to “an off-air incident that took place in December 2010″. It is unknown at this stage what the new evidence may be, but there is some speculation that it may be this fresh footage of the former Everton striker goading presenter Charlotte Jackson.
The scenes, also featuring Richard Keys, show the pundit asking Jackson to tuck a microphone pack down his trousers.
Gray asks Jackson: ‘Charlotte, can you tuck this [microphone pack] down here for me love… Tuck this down here.’
Earlier today, Sky punished the sideline reporter, Andy Burton, seen talking with Gray about female official Sian Massey in the latest leaked footage depicting sexism.
The BBC report that Burton was “spoken to and warned” about his remarks and he will now not be involved in Sky’s coverage of tomorrow’s Carling Cup tie between Birmingham and West Ham.
For the man famed for his two-mobile updates on SSN during transfer deadline day, missing out on work this week, is a bitter pill.
And the heat on Gray and his colleague Keys had intensified this morning. Last night the Monday Night Football double act were absent from the Reebok Stadium as Chelsea hammered Bolton 4-0.
Both were said to be suspended after their sexist remarks about female referee’s assistant Massey were leaked to the press over the weekend.
Today, yet more damaging footage emerged. In that clip shown by Sky News, Gray is seen chatting with SSN reporter Burton about the appearance of the female official.
The new footage – recorded on Saturday before Wolves played Liverpool – shows Gray in conversation with Burton, who describes Massey as a ‘bit of a looker’ in reference to comments made by another member of the production team – ‘Steve the cameraman’.
Keys was said to have telephoned Massey yesterday to make a personal apology which she accepted.
Yesterday’s controversy saw the station scurry to make alternative plans for last night’s live game.
Ultimately they decided to abandon the high-production values of their modern MNF studio and sent a new team to Lancashire.
David Jones presented instead of Keys, with ever-present Jamie Redknapp and Eidur Gudjohnsen alongside him in the gantry.
Sian Massey was penciled in for a return to action tonight. She was scheduled to run the line when Crewe Alexandra play Bradford City at Gresty Road in League Two.
However, referee chiefs have now decided to withdraw the teacher from the game this evening so the ‘focus remains on the players’.
Yesterday, Sky released a statement but it was unclear whether or not the duo will present next Tuesday’s live match between West Brom and Wigan, although the expectation is that they will return.
On Sunday, Keys brazenly began his broadcast with a less-than-subtle reference to the revelations in the morning papers.
Sky Sports said last night that Keys and Gray apologised privately for their comments.
They released a statement which read: ‘The comments are not acceptable. They were not made on air but we have spoken to Richard and Andy and told them our views and they have apologised and expressed their regret.’
“The comments reported are not acceptable. They were not made on air but we have spoken to Richard and Andy and told them our views. They have apologised and expressed their regret.”
Rio Ferdinand weighed in with a comment to his many Twitter followers:
At his Merseyside press conference yesterday, Anfield boss Kenny Dalglsh – father of TV presenter Kelly Cates of course – put Sky’s Vinny O’Connor on the spot, asking him if he was okay with female reporters attending the briefing.
Do you think Keys should now follow Gray out the door?
Very sad. Could be pushing 100 caps at 28 had it not been for some awful injuries. Few players will ever make the same impact straight out of school. Best of luck!
Best of luck in the future Luke. no one can ever say you ever gave up. Such a pity and what a waste.
It is easy to forget, after all of the injuries, aborted comebacks and finally early retirement, just quite how good Fitzgerald was when he burst onto the scene.
He went straight from school into the Leinster team – the last player to do that, I think. He was only 19 when he made his Leinster debut, and was playing for Ireland within two months – the youngest player to be capped in 29 years. By 22 he was a Lions starter. In retrospect, that may have been the peak of his career.
The footwork, the change of direction, the quick hands, the strong defence, the acceleration, the instincts – in the early days at least, it was all more than a little reminiscent of another Blackrock College back. I always felt that Fitzgerald’s best position would have been 13, but he really didn’t get to play there that often (mostly because of O’Driscoll). Nonetheless, wing, centre, full back – he so often excelled where ever he played. It is hard to escape the feeling that we never really saw Fitzgerald fulfil his potential – he had the talent and physical attributes to have been a great. Sadly, injuries prevented that.
Whilst it seems of late that Luke has been constantly injured it is pretty remarkable that, despite retiring at 29, he has played for Leinster for 10 seasons.
154 Leinster caps, 34 for Ireland, 1 for the Lions. 3 H Cups, 1 Euro Challenge Cup, 3 Pro 12s ,1 Grand Slam, 1 6N, 1 Lions tour. Not a bad career at all. Good luck Luke, and thanks for some great days.
(* he has also played for Ireland for 10 seasons)
He still made Ma Nonu look average last December at 13 , huge loss
Agreed, Martin. It’s a blow for Ireland, and a major problem for Leinster. Shame for the lad, of course.
Absolutely world class player that got the short straw in the injury department. I wish him well in retirement.
Never got a break from injury , joins a list of retiring players that just seems to get longer
Best of luck to him whatever he does
Well its not going to get shorter is it?
Pmsl
Well done Luke on an amazing career and an amount of resolve most of us wouldn’t have put up with. Best of luck for the future.
That’s absolutely heart breaking.
He was a class act but the last few years must have been tough, good luck to him.
He’s a top notch player that’s bloody unlucky when it comes to injury. It’s the correct decision for his own health.
When he was fit, he was dynamic…always looked dangerous looking to bust thru defences..sorry to hear the news…great player..
The lad had been putting in extra hours of pre-warm up and cool down just to be in an position to train at the same level of others. That’s a level of dedication most of us will never know in our careers. Such a pity we never got a sustained period of uninterrupted brilliance out of him. Wish him well in his future career.
Was absolutely brilliant in 2009 when he was a key member of the successful Leinster and Ireland teams and started for the Lions. Never got a break with injuries and bad luck.
A fit luke was a top class player…massive loss…
Genuinely sad to hear this, even if it was on the cards. A prodigious talent never fully realised due to awful luck. If the guy puts as much effort into his post rugby life as he did to this point I have no doubt he’ll be successful. Thanks for all your efforts in green and blue Luke.
Best wishes Luke
His dad was my childhood hero, and I had hoped Luke would be up there with the all time greats, and surpass his dad’s cap tally. They’ve both achieved 34 in the end. Sad day. Best of luck with your future Luke
It’s bizarre how some lads like Luke get injury after injury after injury yet others like Jamie have never been injured – is it technique ? Is it physiological make-up? Is it just bad luck ? ….. Hopefully someone somewhere is doing some research on it
I read somewhere that Heaslip has been studied. One outcome was that he has a high natural level of testosterone. Its interesting how small differences in DNA makeup can lead to major advantages in sport.
Heaslip is a bit of a freak of nature, but he is also exceptionally dedicated to keeping himself fit, and also supple. There was a great interview with him on here two years ago: http://www.the42.ie/jamie-heaslip-injury-prevention-1335756-Mar2014/
So, while Cian Healy and Stephen Ferris competed to see who could lift more, Heaslip was quietly doing his stretches for a couple of hours per day. Might be a lesson in that for Healy, in particular, who looks so muscular that he can hardly run.
I think its a combination of many factors, and a massive dose of bad luck.
Personally I have found that one injury tends to breed more injuries, as imbalances are created and compensation issues occur throughout the body.
Other factors include genetics, however those with sub-optimal genetics or any kind of compromised physical makeup will be weeded out through the rugby system, and will never make it near international level.
Theres also playing style, Lukes running style is very aggressive with hard changes in direction I’m sure that would place massive forces on knee hip etc.
On the testosterone comment you’d be hard pressed to find any player in the squad without a naturally higher level, at elite pro level if you have anything less it will show up pretty quick in your rate of recovery.
I assume he was being compared to other Leinster and Irish players not us mere average types.
Fantastic player. Sad to see him go. Thanks Lukey!
Wow. Hard to believe this. Probably one of the most gifted players to ever pull on a green jersey. However we will never realise just how good he could have been as injury took him down every time he started showing his potential. Devastated for him but he does need to think of number 1 and look after his body from here on. Best of luck in the future Luke.
F*ck.
A top player will always be missed. I hope whatever the medical reason for retirement does not effect his life off the field or has any long term ills.
Best of luck hope you will enjoy live, Munster man will miss you on and off the field Luke even
A shame but understandable with all his injuries. An incredibly gifted young player when he broke on the scene in 2009 and his part in the grand slam will never be forgotten.
Wow – even Rochelle has nice things to say about Luke. Speaks volumes, that.
Terrible news. Be it for the long list of injuries Luke has had, he would have been one of Ireland’s most capped players. It’s a harsh reminder of the nature of this sport when two young lads like Fitzgerald and Felix Jones have to retire before the age of 30.
Gutted for him. A brilliant player who achieved so much at the start of his career with Leinster, Ireland and the Lions. Such a pity he was cut down in his prime and we’ll never know what could have been. Admire him greatly for his dedication in coming back from a litany of injuries. Best of luck to him in the future.
Go well Lukey. Dazzling player always, happy to see you retire before a serious one. It’s only sport. I can’t wait to see what you do next!!
Thanks for the service Luke, exceptional talent cruelly robbed by the rigours of the game.
On a par with Messi retiring from international football
Ya, because Messi is what, the 128th best player in the world?
Lads. Please, time and a place. Have some respect.
Piotrek Troll you are a total knob#
Ireland were noticeably better when he came on against Argentina. A great player and a huge loss to Leinster and Ireland.
A legend on and off the pitch!
World class player never got a break from injury he was brilliant against Argentina in his last match for Ireland
Sad news. Fitzgerald was capable of really stepping up on the big occasions. Along with David Wallace, he was a level above every other Irish player at home to NZ in 2008, and turned in a world class performance against Argentina last year. Big loss for Leinster
Never reached his potential, if he looked after himself better he could have been top drawer
He looked after himself more than most. He showed a level of dedication and discipline that most others would never need to.
Don’t think there are many workout programs that prevent knee ligament damage or neck injuries. Getting 34 caps for your country on top of playing for your province and the lions is a hell of a lot more than I’ll ever do, never mind before I get to 29.
I’m sure you are at the top of your game Pete in whatever mid level job you are in, if any…
Well you’re definitely a Chief Plonker there Oisin
Terrible news but as the injuries piled up it was probably inevitable this wud happen..great career,even though it was short..will go down as one of leinster and Ireland’s great wingers..always gave 100%..best of luck in the future
Fantastic player big loss to rugby
Really feel sorry for Lukey, would have been one of our greatest players had he not been plagued by injury. Never got to see his full potential. Good luck in whatever you now do, perhaps Punditry.. you were great last Sat on Sky.
An absolute warrior and gentleman on and off the pitch etc …gutted etc…
Honestly with injury I feel he has just acted as a pr agent/player for the IRFU. I won’t miss him.
Nobend
Could have become a legend up there with the rest of them if he wasn’t so unlucky with injuries. Sad end to his career, but I wish him every luck in the future
Arguably the most talented/dynamic back not named Brian O’Driscoll to play for Ireland in the last 10 years. Reminiscent of Ferris retirement two years to the day, with Fitzgerald gone we can only hope O’Brien can make a comeback because his career is facing a similar trajectory right now.
28? Amazing how these guys age so fast. bod looks about 60 now
@ken and how do you prefer your guys to age?