An Australian radio presenter, Marty Sheargold, has been dismissed from his position following offensive comments he made about the country's women's football team. The remarks were widely criticized as misogynistic and disrespectful.
Sheargold, who was a host on the nationwide radio station Triple M, made derogatory comments about the Matildas players. He compared them to "year 10 girls" and suggested that their matches were dull. These remarks sparked widespread outrage among listeners and sports fans alike.
The presenter was scheduled to be back on air after issuing an apology earlier on Wednesday but did not appear in his usual time slot.
Mutual agreement to part ways
Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), the parent company of Triple M, later announced that they had mutually agreed with Sheargold to part ways. In a statement released by SCA, it emphasized its commitment towards maintaining programming standards that align with audience expectations.
Chief content officer at Triple M, Dave Cameron, said:
"Right now, it's clear this is a moment for reflection and review. Triple M, and the wider SCA network, will continue to take all necessary steps to support staff,"
Sheargold also issued a statement acknowledging the severity of his comments and extended a sincere apology to both the Matildas and their broader organization for his inappropriate remarks.
Impact on women’s football achievements
The sport's governing body expressed disappointment over Sheargold’s comments stating they "diminish the extraordinary achievements" of a team that reached women's World Cup semi-finals in 2023. During his Monday afternoon drivetime show while discussing Australia's defeat against US in its second consecutive loss in the SheBelieves Cup, Sheargold interjected with disparaging remarks.
Marty Sheargold, Radio host, said:
"You know what they remind me of? Year 10 girls,"
"All the infighting and all the friendship issues... Now I'm sorry to undermine the whole sport, but that's what I think of it."
When reference was made about Australia hosting AFC Women's Asian Cup next year, he responded dismissively before making an obscene comment criticizing it. He then asked his co-host: "Got any men's sport?"
These controversial statements quickly went viral causing further backlash against him from sports fans across Australia. The incident involving Sheargold underscores the importance of respectful and unbiased commentary in sports broadcasting. It serves as a reminder that derogatory remarks about any team or player, regardless of their gender, are unacceptable and can have serious consequences. The swift action taken by SCA sends a clear message to all broadcasters about the need for maintaining professionalism and respect towards all athletes.
