Today's edition of The Times features an interview with Sian Massey-Ellis, the assistant referee who was six years ago at the centre of the controversy which resulted in Richard Keys and Andy Gray losing their jobs with Sky.
The duo, who had long fronted Sky Sports' Premier League coverage, were caught on microphone before a Premier League game making abhorrently sexist comments about Massey-Ellis.
In today's interview, Massey-Ellis said that when Keys rang her to apologise, she told him that he should have known better.
When Richard rang to apologise on behalf of both of them, and he said, ‘I’m sorry’, I just said, ‘For me, I thought you would know better’.
In their position, they should have known that just to be on that pitch I must have gone through so much. So much scrutiny, so much training, so many challenges, so much game pressure. I’m not there without being tried and tested over many years.
Not long following the article's publication, Keys issued a response opposing Massey-Ellis's claim.
Keys claims that Massey-Ellis told him 'it was only banter' - an excuse he has used himself in the past in an attempt to mitigate for his actions.
He also added that it had been a 'bad move' by her to do the interview.
No she didn't. She said 'oh come on - it was only banter (her words) I expected it last week at Sunderland'. pic.twitter.com/MFfIF5n9Au
— Richard Keys (@richardajkeys) March 18, 2017
Ms Massey also added 'thanks for not showing the one I cocked up really badly'. I've got a record of it all Sian. Bad move.
— Richard Keys (@richardajkeys) March 18, 2017
