Andy’s red card does women no favours at all

THE news Sky Sports soccer pundit Andy Gray has been given the red card following his off-camera sexist comments about a female official is probably baffling a lot of people today.

What’s the big deal? A bit of lads’ banter never hurt anyone. It happens all the time — even women often find it funny.

So sacking a man for it is a clear case of militant feminism running riot. Right?

Whether they admit it or not, that’s what a lot of men are thinking today.

Even if they don’t agree with what Andy Gray, 55, said, they probably think firing him was a bit harsh.

But Andy Gray wasn’t sacked just because of a few un-PC comments about Sian Massey’s knowledge of the off-side rule. Or even for asking co-presenter Charlotte Jackson if she could tuck his microphone into his trousers for him.

Rather it is an obvious sustained and neanderthal sexist attitude which makes him think it’s OK in a professional setting to demean women and make them the butt of his jokes.

Gray’s jack-the-lad attitude is one that is rife not just in the sporting world — though it’s more pronounced — but in all professions. But when does it become unacceptable? And were Gray’s indiscretions serious enough for him to lose his job? Men will more than likely say no. Women, while secretly delighted with the decision, will probably say no too. Because saying yes makes you a crazy PC-gone-made bra-burning feminist.

And again, there’s that attitude. If a woman dares to get incensed over sexist comments she is over- reacting. Ironically, Sky’s sacking of Gray could serve to be counter- productive for women as already he is being hailed as a victim of overwrought feminism.

A groveling apology — making Gray feel like the women he’s insulted — would have sufficed. Either way, it’s difficult to muster up sympathy for the man. That’s surely one thing men and women both can agree on.