The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Sexist jokes spark walkout at awards
The Scottish Football Writers’ Association has apologised for an after-dinner speaker making offensive jokes that led to guests – including TV broadcaster Eilidh Barbour – walking out during its awards night.
Barbour claimed she had “never felt so unwelcome” in her industry while another guest revealed she had walked out following “sexist and racist jokes”.
The controversy centred around a speech by Bill Copeland, a lawyer who works on the after-dinner speaking circuit.
The SFWA promised a review of the event, which was attended by award winners including Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon and former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who received a lifetime achievement award at the dinner in Glasgow on Sunday night.
Barbour wrote on Twitter during the speech: “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.”
Gabriella Bennett, cochairwoman of Women in Journalism Scotland, wrote: “I was at these awards tonight and sat through the same sexist and racist jokes made by a keynote speaker. My table walked out at the same time Eilidh’s did.”
In a statement yesterday, the SFWA apologised to “anyone offended or upset by material from one of our after-dinner speakers” at the awards night.
It added: “We have agreed unanimously that this will act as a catalyst to review and improve the format of our future events to make it an enjoyable and inspirational event for all.”
Speaking later on BBC Radio Scotland, Bennett said: “This is probably the sixth or seventh year I have attended this dinner.
“I really enjoy it as an event but there are always off-colour jokes made by the speakers.
“I am using ‘off-colour’ as a descriptive word but what I mean is sexist or misogynistic.
“But last night’s speech was really next level. I walked out after about five minutes and within that time it was rammed with sexist jokes.
“It’s also worth pointing out that there were loads of people laughing at these jokes.
“So there’s lots of work that we still need to do in changing people’s minds about what’s acceptable.”
Another guest, Motherwell Women’s coach and pundit Leanne Crichton, said she was “disheartened” by the experience.
“I think the majority of the people I was around and spoke to were shocked, and that to me sends a positive message that there is change within the room,” she added.
“I don’t think it is reflective of all the sports writers who were present. I think it was reflective of really bad taste and poor judgement on the hiring and the people that choose to tolerate that type of behaviour.”
Equality campaign groups Kick It Out and Women In Football stated they had been made aware of “sexist, racist and homophobic remarks” during the speech.
“Events that celebrate talent in our game should be a time to focus on the positives,” they added.
“It should not be used as a platform to share discriminatory and derogatory comments and make groups and communities feel excluded and insulted.
“The fact we have been made aware by those in attendance that they felt unwelcome in an industry they work is unacceptable, and we stand with them.”
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I walked out after about five minutes and within that time it was rammed with sexist jokes
The sexism, racism and homophobia row that erupted at the Scottish Football Writers’ Association (SFWA) dinner has shone a light on a murky corner of life in this country.
There is no point in pretending the remarks made at the awards dinner at the weekend – for which the SFWA was rightly forced to apologise – are an exception and have never before been heard in event venues up and down the country.
Because that, sadly, would be a lie. The difference on this occasion was that someone was willing to stand up and call out crass, pathetic, misogynistic, throwback nonsense for being exactly that.
So well done to broadcaster Eilidh Barbour for saying enough is enough and for making the principled stand that so many have failed to do in similar circumstances elsewhere.
There can be no place in a modern, Scotland for so-called humour that belittles, abuses and causes hurt.
Wherever it arises, it must be called out. Otherwise Scotland will only be paying lip service to being a progressive nation, while really having its head stuck firmly in the Dark Ages.