I’ve Scott no issues on Souey TV jibes
ALEX SCOTT has lifted the lid on her pundits’ spat with Graeme Souness, insisting: “I’m not just there to tick a box – I deserve to be there.”
Former England defender Scott, who won 140 caps, was involved in an awkward exchange with Souness on Sky Sports in February.
The 66-year-old ex-Liverpool captain interrupted when she twice used the phrase “low block” to describe teams set up to play on the counter-attack.
Some viewers felt his attitude was patronising when she explained the term and Souness validated his interjection by scoffing: “OK – defending deep.”
Scott, who won rave reviews for her punditry on the BBC at the World Cup, insisted she did not take it personally, and that Souness is “lovely” off-air.
But speaking at the BBC’s launch of #ChangeTheGame – blanket coverage of female sport this summer, including the women’s World Cup in France – she revealed she had suffered “everyday sexism” in her role as a pundit.
And Scott was nearly forced off Twitter over Christmas, when abuse from trolls appeared to intensify.
She said: “Every time I’m on with Graeme, I get more comments than when I’m working with another pundit.
“I think it’s highlighted because people see me as female – but Graeme Souness is like that with every pundit he sits alongside.
“If he’s got a strong opinion and he disagrees with you, I actually respect that, and that’s how I want people to be with me.
“I don’t ever want people on Twitter to say I’m just ticking a box.
“I’m there because I’ve done the work, I’ve done my research and I deserve to be there.”