Souness and Carney were part of the punditry team on Sky Sports.
Graeme Souness has been criticised for his tone-deaf comments after he described the draw between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea as a “man’s game” while sat next to former England women’s international Karen Carney.
Souness and Carney were both part of the Sly Sports punditry team who watched Spurs come from behind twice to salvage a late draw with Chelsea.
Kalidou Koulibaly gave the Blues the lead before Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s equaliser which led to a brawl and both Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel being booked.
Reece James restored the home side’s lead before Harry Kane popped up at the last minute to head home and equalise as both sides shared the points at Stamford Bridge.
Vintage Barclays pic.twitter.com/ZXHawt8PbY
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) August 14, 2022
The full-time whistle saw tempers flare once again as both managers clashed during their handshake, leading to the pair both being sent off.
During the post-match analysis, Souness described football as a “man’s game” despite sitting next to Carney, a former footballer with over 100 caps for her country, significantly more than Souness achieved for his native Scotland.
Thankfully presenter David Jones stepped in to defend Carney and say: “And also a woman’s game, as Karen rightly pointed out” but Souness’ comments sparked an angry reaction on social media.
Souness with the intentional “accidental Partridge” 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/IptW8w2z0V
— Tom Pidge (@itsthepidgehere) August 14, 2022
“Graeme Souness constantly banging on about football being a man’s game is crass at the best of times but doing so while he’s sat beside a woman … appalling show of disrespect,” one person wrote.
Graeme Souness constantly banging on about football being a man’s game is crass at the best of times but doing so while he’s sat beside a woman … appalling show of disrespect.
And let’s not even get onto that weird Messi comment.
— Sachin Nakrani (@SachinNakrani) August 14, 2022
Another tweeted: “For Graeme Souness to solely refer to football as a man’s game is so out of touch with reality. It’s so disrespectful to everything womens football has achieved especially with the Lionesses winning the Euros and Emma Hayes being such a successful manager in the womens game.”
For Graeme Souness to solely refer to football as a man’s game is so out of touch with reality 🤦🏽♀️.
It’s so disrespectful to everything womens football has achieved especially with the Lionesses winning the Euros and Emma Hayes being such a successful manager in the womens game.
— Alexandra Pereira⭐️⭐️ (@AlexJanePereira) August 14, 2022
A third person said: “Not Graemme Souness saying it’s ‘a man’s game’ with Karen Carney right next to him and two weeks after one of the greatest sporting achievements in English football. Get this ogre out of football.”
Not Graemme Souness saying it's 'a man's game' with Karen Carney right next to him and two weeks after one of the greatest sporting achievements in English football. Get this ogre out of football
— Wallenius Wilhemsen (@joetalsportek) August 14, 2022
Ex-Crystal Palace and Everton winger Yannick Bolasie also added: “First he keeps talking about football being a man’s game which is wild….then he’s not even speaking facts, somebody needs to tap into that earpiece.”
“It’s a man’s game”
“Men at it”Get in the 🗑 what a disgraceful thing to say after the summer this country has just seen.
— Bethany England (@Bethany_Eng15) August 14, 2022
Related links:
- Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel sent off as Chelsea and Spurs draw
- Richard Madeley makes viewers cringe yet again with bizarre remark to Alessia Russo
- Lioness Chloe Kelly’s face says it all after Richard Madeley calls her Coco in ‘sexist’ exchange
