Newstalk presenter, ex-bookmaker, former Fine Gael minister, Ivan Yates is sick of the 'Stephanie Roche for the Puskas award' business.
At the end of Oisin Langan's 7.30 sport bulletin, Chris O'Donoghue idly wished good luck to Stephanie ahead of the Puskas award.
Yates scoffed loudly.
Ah, it's the height of tokenism. Even Andy Carroll can score against Wexford Youths... She was playing for Peamount United! Give me a break. To compare Van Persie, a world class goal in a World Cup. I mean, what sort of defence would Wexford Youths put up? Even Andy Carroll could score against them. The fact of the matter of it is, it's tokenism because she's a woman. The fact that she's Irish, fantastic and good luck to her. But there's no way she deserves the Puskas award. No way! Its sham amateurism.
Yates uttered his comments over the objections of his colleagues, who accused him of begrugdery (as ever with Yates, it was dressed up as bracing appeal for meritocracy).
While one can understand what he means by 'tokenism' - even if one doesn't agree, his use of the phrase 'sham amateurism' is puzzling in this context - could do with elucidation.
Listen here from 31.30 onwards.
