Radio host sorry for women’s football remarks

A presenter on one of Australia’s biggest radio networks has apologised after comments he made about the national women’s football team were condemned as misogynist and disrespectful.

Marty Sheargold said the Matildas players reminded him of “year 10 girls” and he inferred matches were boring.

The sport’s Australian governing body said the remarks aired live on Triple M were “unacceptable” and “deeply disappointing”.

They also “diminish the extraordinary achievements” of a team that were semi-finalists in the Women’s World Cup in 2023, Football Australia added.

On Wednesday, Sheargold put out a short statement saying: “Any comedy, including mine, can miss the mark sometimes, and I can see why people may have taken offence to my comments regarding the Matildas. I sincerely apologise.”

The BBC understands the host will address the issue on air later.

During his drivetime show on Monday afternoon, Sheargold interjected during a sports bulletin, which was discussing Australia’s defeat to the US and its second consecutive loss in the SheBelieves Cup.

“You know what they remind me of? Year 10 girls,” Sheargold said, to the laughter of his co-hosts.

“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 his colleague mentioned the SheBelieves Cup by name, Sheargold interrupted saying: “Oh, she believes in what? It better be men.”

And when reference was made to Australia hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup next year, he said “oh god – the Asian Cup”, before criticising the event with an obscene comment. He then asked his co-host: “Got any men’s sport?”

Southern Cross Austereo, the parent company of Triple M, said the comments “do not align with Triple M’s views and values, and Triple M remains steadfast in its strong support of all women’s and men’s sports”.

“We are sorry for any offence caused,” it said.

Minister for Sport Anika Wells called the comments “boorish, boring and wrong”.

“Australia’s most watched television event ever was the Matildas World Cup semi-final; the Tillies’ quarterfinal is the second-most-watched event in Australian history,” Ms Wells said.

Australian Olympian Ambrosia Malone, who represents her country in hockey, also criticised Sheargold.

“All I could think about was the young girls sitting in the car with their parents, maybe on the way to or from their own training sessions hearing this,” she wrote on social media.

“I’m sure many of them would have been hurt and confused… I was in disbelief.

“This is apparently acceptable on mainstream afternoon radio??? HOW??”

Football Australia added: “This incident is a stark reminder of the responsibility media outlets and personalities have in fostering respectful and constructive discussions about women’s sport and its participants.”