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Andy Gray fired as sexism row grows

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Sky Sports football pundit Andy Gray has been sacked

Soccer pundit Andy Gray has been fired as the football sexism row deepens.

The Sky Sports presenter, already in trouble over sexist remarks about assistant referee Sian Massey, was sacked “in response to new evidence of unacceptable and offensive behaviour” following an “off-air incident that took place in December 2010”, the broadcaster said.

Meanwhile Massey has been withdrawn from running the line at an npower League Two match between Crewe and Bradford by the Professional Games Match Officials organisation.

Reporter Andy Burton has also joined Gray – a former Scotland international – and fellow Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys in being disciplined for comments about Massey.

Burton has been stood down from Wednesday night’s Carling Cup semi-final second leg match between Birmingham and West Ham after footage emerged of him referring to Massey as a “bit of a looker”.

Keys and Gray were dropped from Monday night’s line-up for the match between Bolton and Chelsea after their off-air remarks were leaked.

The pair were heard agreeing that female officials “don’t know the offside rule” and predicted Massey would make mistakes during Wolves’ home game against Liverpool on Saturday. She ended up correctly calling a crucial borderline decision.

New footage has now been shown on Sky News of Gray asking a female colleague to help him tuck his microphone into his trousers. Former Wolves, Everton and Aston Villa striker Gray, who reportedly earns more than £1 million a year, is shown saying to colleague Charlotte Jackson: “Charlotte, can you tuck this down here for me?” She ignores the remark.

Sky Sports said in a statement that it had terminated its contract with Gray. The statement said: “The decision, which is effective immediately, was made in response to new evidence of unacceptable and offensive behaviour.

“The new evidence, relating to an off-air incident that took place in December 2010, came to light after Andy Gray had already been subjected to disciplinary action for his comments of 22 January 2011.”

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