The nasty piece of 'banter' between Andy Gray and Richard Keys showed that, irrespective of how hard it tries to present itself in a favourable light, there's a nasty edge to the football world, with lots of unreconstructed old boys still out there. It's not so long since we heard Ron Atkinson's comments about a black player, and now we have the Sky presenters sharing their sexist remarks. Sky has just shown another piece of Gray 'banter' and thankfully that one has cost him his job.
Well done to Sky Sports for acting promptly to discipline Gray and Keys, but they need to be reading the riot act to the rest of their staff - unacceptable views or language expressed off-air are just as unacceptable as those that sneak out due to a technical error. When will these people realise that it's no longer OK to present a positive, squeaky-clean front to the world, while expressing unpleasant views in private?
I'm sure that there will be cries of outrage that this is all just political correctness but it isn't, it's simply a victory for common sense and respect. Wouldn't it be good to think that those gay players, who undoubtedly exist in professional football but are afraid to come out, might be able to do it without fear of homophobic chanting and abuse? Once that happens I'll start to believe that football is truly cleaning up its act and eliminating prejudice from the game - until then I'll continue to believe that it's still as morally bankrupt as ever.
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