Capello backs female officials

England manager Fabio Capello has backed the use of women officials in the game in the wake of the sacking of Sky Sports pundit Andy Gray and the censure of presenter Richard Keys.

Capello was at the Wolves v Liverpool game on Saturday where referee’s assistant Sian Massey was the subject of Gray and Keys’ inappropriate comments.

Capello, who had to deal with women match officials when he worked in his native Italy, said: “I didn’t hear what they said, but I hear there is a sexism row.

“I was at the Wolves game and I played a lot of games with women linesmen. Every time they were focused and they made the correct decisions. The women linesmen are good.”