Ex-footballer sparks sexism storm over ‘high-pitched’ commentary
A FORMER footballer was branded a sexist dinosaur because he said he preferred male commentators.
Ex-Chelsea star Jason Cundy said he found the BBC’s coverage of the World Cup clash between Morocco and Portugal, the first to be led by a woman, ‘too high-pitched’.
Cundy, 48, said: ‘I found it a tough listen if I’m honest.
‘Personal preference, I would like to hear a male voice, for 90 minutes of football hearing a high-pitched tone is not really what I would like to hear.’
He added: ‘When there is a moment of drama as there often is in football, that moment needs to be done with a slightly lower voice, it’s a personal preference.
‘It’s nothing to do with their insight, the way she delivers it, or her knowledge or her ability to do the job.
‘It’s the voice. For 90 minutes I would prefer to hear a male voice. I find it difficult to hear that voice.’
Vicki Sparks, 29, made history last week when she became the first woman to commentate live on a World Cup match on British TV.
Cundy’s comments sparked outrage on Twitter, with sports presenter Jacqui Oatley – the first woman to commentate on Match of the Day – tweeting: ‘Frustrating that this “female commentator” debate is still such an issue, 11 years after my first MotD game and eight years after I did seven live World Cup commentaries on (radio station) 5 Live.
‘Voice/ style preference is always subjective – to say it “shouldn’t be allowed” says more about the critic.’
Chelsea woman footballer Fran Kirby, 24, tweeted: ‘How about we just go back to the dinosaur ages to 1921 and ban women’s football? Because clearly some people haven’t evolved since then and are still stuck in that time period.’