Graeme Souness has been defended as a number of female players and pundits slam his ‘disgraceful’ comments made on Sky Sports.
Souness has caused a divided reaction after describing football as ‘a man’s game’ following live coverage of Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Tottenham.
A late Harry Kane equaliser rescued a point for Spurs at Stamford Bridge in what was an entertaining 2-2 draw.
While dissecting the game for Sky Sports in the studio, Souness said: “Simulation and people throwing themselves to the ground. I’ve not seen that in the two games today. It’s a man’s game all of a sudden again.”
His comments come just two weeks after the England women’s football team won the European Championships at a sold-out Wembley Stadium.
Lead presenter David Jones swiftly moved in to comment: “It’s a man’s game, but as Karen points out, it’s a woman’s game as well. We’ve seen the former Chelsea captain make a few tackles in her time.”
Souness saying “it’s a man’s game” next to Karen Carney💀💀 pic.twitter.com/R4bevjJ3B5
— mx (@MessiMX30iiii) August 14, 2022
The comment was made sitting next to former Lionesses star and Chelsea Women’s captain Karen Carney, who was also on punditry duty for the game and looked visibly uncomfortable.
Souness made the reference more than once, referring to watching a game with “men at it”. This led to Bethany England tweeting: “’It’s a man’s game’, ‘Men at it’ Get in the bin. What a disgraceful thing to say after the summer this country has just seen.”
Carney’s former England teammate Aluko tweeted: “Awkward turtles, Graeme Souness talking about ‘it’s a man’s game again’ sat next to an England centurion Karen Carney, two weeks after the Lionesses end a 56 year wait and win European Championships. Come on. It’s not okay.”
However while Souness’ comments causes backlash, it has also seen many defend him, saying that the pundit talking about the football match played by men, has nothing to do with the women’s game… so is what he said really that controversial?
“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
Karen Carney’s reaction, she did well to not retaliate pic.twitter.com/xoGmq9cl9Z
— jessie (@jesshoskingx) August 14, 2022
As mentioned, Graeme Souness is defended as female players and pundits slam his ‘disgraceful’ comments…
@GarySmithJnr: I can’t stand Souness more than the next man (also just a phrase)… But what he said is just that, a phrase, whilst talking about the men’s game. It’s nothing against women’s football! 🤦🏼♂️
@NobeterBuachail: So Souness saying its a mans game is wrong when talking about a match containing 22 men?🤣🤣🤣
@TheBlooRay__: We were watching men playing though.
@huggydumps14: It was a man’s game, it was Chelsea men v Spurs Men, he never said anything wrong, it should be men at jt in a game like that
@wmlxb05: It’s a saying, get over it. It’s not all about you. And it is a different game, else it would be non-gender wouldn’t it. Congrats and all, but…
@sawdy_land: When it’s a mens football match that someone’s watching, as he was, and he says “it’s a man’s game” then people like yourself twisting it’s meaning to suit your own agenda is pathetic and you are as big a problem
@IceBergwijn: Lets make an issue out of nothing. Quick
@heyholetsgof: We celebrated “womens” football and rightly so, why get your knickers in a twist when we say a “man’s” game
@_mattavfc: he’s literally talking about mens football humble yourself
@PochClub: He is commenting on mens game and literally said “men at it” what do you want women to be subbed on?
@hallamwalker23: Taking it way out of context. Listen to the full interview. Don’t be like that, you’re ruining everything you’ve built this summer
@MarcSpurs: Souness is Scottish, I doubt he was celebrating England winning something.. and he was talking about a men’s game of football.. I’m all for equality in the game, but its a figure of speech when talking about a game like that in men’s football..
@Bartmansaint4: It was literally men vs men, don’t start all this nonsense
@1JohnnyHotStuff: I’ve got to agree. I am all for equality and cheered the Lionesses on as much as anyone but there is a point where we have to accept that things are changing for the better and it won’t happen overnight when people have been using these fairly harmless expressions for years.
@Deanomac14: Imagine Graeme souness, talking about enjoying a game, being played in a manner typically traited by men, whilst doing punditry of a game, where men played, and being hammered for it? Worlds gone mad, not everything has to be literal and inclusive in every single detail of life
@WhiteHartLiz: This is an overreaction. He means the game is more like in the old days, when tackles and passion were part of the game and not subject to var scrutiny every two seconds. I agree with him.
@Daren0109: I see Graeme Souness is coming under attack this morning by his remarks about y/days Chelsea/Tottenham game, “it’s nice to have the man’s game back” he said after a little bit of handbags 🤣, I’m with Graeme 100% it was a breath of fresh air, no doubt he’ll be for the chop now 😡
@rhysbrown1307: Graeme Souness talking about a men’s football match saying it’s a mans game is somehow offensive
@emwafc_27: Graeme Souness is a gobshite at the best of times, but if you’ve taken the “it’s a man’s game again” comment out of context and turned it into a sexist remark you’re a bad muppet. Have a nice day
@DonQuigg: It’s a mens game as it was a mens football match. Stop clutching at straws Bethany.
@dumbart21269367: What a sad world we live in when people moan and make such a big issue about a nothing comment. Pundits (both male and female) will be scared to talk soon incase of upsetting such people.
I’m outraged & disgusted that Graeme Souness used the words ‘man’s game’ when talking specifically about an incident in a man’s game played by two teams of men. Especially when we’ve all spent the past few weeks talking about the ‘women’s game.’
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 14, 2022
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