Premier League’s first lineswoman displays on Andy Gray sexism scandal

Wendy Toms has addressed feedback made about her throughout the 2011 sexism row that noticed Andy Gray sacked from his function at Sky Sports. 

Toms, who was the Premier League‘s first feminine refereeing official in 1997, was known as ‘f***ing hopless’ by Gray in a studio chat that was later leaked. 

The notorious incident noticed Gray and colleague Richard Keys lose their jobs at Sky Sports for sexist feedback about referees Sian Massey-Ellis and Toms.

Keys, who resigned from his function at Sky in consequence, had mocked Massey-Ellis, whereas Gray stated Toms was ‘f***ing hopeless as properly’. 

It is a second and a day that Toms, who sat down with Mail Sport for a wide-ranging interview about her profession, remembers properly.

Wendy Toms has opened as much as Mail Sport on the notorious sexism row at Sky again in 2011

Gray (proper), who was sacked by Sky again in 2011 over the sexism scandal, known as Toms ‘f***ing hopeless’, whereas colleague Richard Keys (left) later resigned from his function over his personal remarks

Mail Sport has launched a marketing campaign to cease the abuse of referees in any respect ranges of the sport

‘The remark was directed at another person, Amy Fearne,’ she reveals.

‘She had a sport and so they weren’t completely happy along with her efficiency. But they used my identify and by no means thought it was somebody completely totally different.

‘It was actually unusual. I phoned Amy and stated, “What’s going on?” She stated, “Yeah I didn’t have the best of games”. I stated, “I noticed, your name wasn’t mentioned but mine was – thanks for that!”

‘I do not perceive why he (Gray) simply had a beef about girls in soccer. And typically you get that, that folks simply don’t need girls in soccer.

‘But feedback like that dropped at a head feedback that had been being stated about females. It needed to, sufficient was sufficient.’

Keys (proper) and Gray made misogynistic concerning the potential of feminine assistant Sian Massey-Ellis (left), in addition to Toms, again in 2011 throughout protection of Liverpool’s 3-0 win away at Wolves

Toms needs to see extra girls in high refereeing positions, and stated the Keys-Gray incident was proof that ‘sufficient is sufficient’ of feedback disrespecting the power of feminine officers

In January 2011, Keys, 66, resigned and Gray, 68, was sacked after controversial feedback over whether or not girls had been match to officiate at matches – for which they later apologised.

A Mail on Sunday investigation revealed an audio tape of Keys and Gray speaking about Massey-Ellis and different feminine assistant referees off-air throughout Liverpool’s 3-0 win at Wolves 12 years in the past.

Keys was recorded saying: ‘Somebody higher get down there and clarify offside to her (Massey),’ whereas Gray replied: ‘Yeah, I do know. Can you imagine that? Female linesman. Forget what I stated – they in all probability do not know the offside rule.’

Keys then said: ‘Course they do not’ and Gray responded: ‘Why is there a feminine linesman? Somebody’s f***** up huge.’ 

Toms (centre) rose by way of the ranks and as much as the highest flight in England after taking a refereeing course in Cyprus, the place her then-husband was stationed with the RAF

Gray and Keys later opened up on their expertise in an interview with Piers Morgan (proper)

It is a day that Toms remembers properly, and each Keys and Gray addressed the leaked chat intimately in an interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV final yr.

‘I’ve stated many occasions to associates, given the identical circumstances, after all I’d’ve executed issues in another way,’ Keys stated. 

‘You should consider psychological well being, which persons are too fast to dismiss, much less so now. 

‘For the primary time in my life I discovered myself in a really tough place and I couldn’t get my head spherical it. It didn’t appear that vital to start out the forest fireplace that was engulfing us.’

For his half, Gray went on to admit that with out his household ‘I do not know what would have occurred’ as he mentioned his psychological well being battle in a wide-ranging interview.

‘I abruptly discovered myself in a extremely darkish place,’ Gray stated. ‘I knew I had executed one thing incorrect, after all I did, however I could not compute it. My head was gone. If it wasn’t for my spouse I do not know what would have occurred.

‘I used to be near happening the backyard, I had a pond, with a bottle and some tablets at some point. I used to be that dangerous.

‘People who know me will assume I’m kidding… horrible [time]. I could not work it out. For two weeks I could not depart the home, simply surrounded by press and media. Really bizarre – however I’m by way of it now.’