TV EILIDH QUITS AWARDS OVER SEXIST ’JOKES’
Presenter joins walk-out of women at footie bash
TELLY sports presenter Eilidh Barbour joined a walk-out by female guests at a football awards event after a speaker made a series of “sexist” and “racist” jokes.
Eilidh Barbour, 39, who reports on football and golf for Sky Sports and BBC Sport, hit out after ex-criminal defence lawyer Bill Copeland’s speech at the Scottish Football Writers’ Association dinner on Sunday.
In a tweet, she wrote: “Never felt so unwelcome in the industry I work in than sitting at the Scottish Football Writers’ Awards.
“A huge reminder there is still so much to do in making our game an equal place #callitout #equalgame.”
Dunkeld-born Barbour’s table stood up and left the room in protest over after-dinner speaker Copeland’s speech, which was allegedly littered with sexist and racist jibes.
While her tweet did not identify Copeland, others who had also been at the dinner – which handed out awards to Scottish football’s best performers this season – came forward to identify him as the speaker. Others also joined Barbour in standing up from their tables and leaving the room in disgust.
Journalist Gabriella Bennett, who co-chairs the Women In Journalism advocacy group, told BBC Lunchtime Live: “I walked out after about five minutes of maybe a 20-minute speech.
“Those five minutes were rammed with sexist jokes and I saw Eilidh Barbour and her table stand up to leave.”
An SFWA spokesman said: “The Scottish Football Writers’ Association apologises to anyone offended or upset by material from one of our after-dinner speakers at last night’s annual awards dinner.”
Copeland was contacted for comment.