Ian Wright hits out at ‘stinking-mouthed racist’ response to Sky Sports pundit sackings

Former Arsenal and England footballer-turned BBC pundit condemned those who have blamed Sky’s decision to replace Matt Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson on the inclusion of black and female guests

Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright has condemned “stinking-mouthed racists” who claimed that Sky’s decision to sack three of their Soccer Saturday pundits was made in order to add more black and female presenters.

Sky Sports confirmed on Wednesday that former footballers Matt Le Tissier, Phil Thompson and Charlie Nicholas will no longer be a part of their coverage during the 2020/21 season, having contributed nearly 50 years combined since hanging up their boots.

The development, which was made as Sky ‘made changes to their football coverage’ on the eve of the new season, sparked debate over why the trio had been replaced at such short notice, although no replacements have formally been announced.

It was highlighted that Soccer Saturday’s coverage regularly featured an all-white, all-male panel last season, but that triggered a backlash towards the likes of Micah Richards and Alex Scott on social media as critics condemned what they believed was a racially- and gender-motivated decision.

It provoked a furious response from BBC pundit Wright, with the 56-year-old Arsenal great pulling his car over in order to film a response from the driver’s seat and post it on his Twitter page in which he launched a verbal attack on those who were highlighting black football pundits as a reason for Sky’s decision.

Wright has faced horrific racial abuse in recent months on social media after expressing his support for the Black Lives Matter movement, and he also defended both Richards and Scott for their impressive work since swapping the pitch for the studio.

“I’ve had to pull the car over – the racism is going through the roof today,” Wright said in the video.

“Can someone answer me this: what does Micah Richards, Alex Scott, Sol Campbell, Clinton Morrison or any other black pundit have to do with Sky’s decision to get rid of these guys?

“All because three middle-aged white guys got the sack ... I kiss my teeth.

“What have these guys done? Because a black person or a woman might get the opportunity to do this job on this show? Why are people upset? Alex Scott, for me, is easily one of the best-prepared pundits out there. Easily.

“Micah Richards is the most exciting pundit to hit the scene in years.

“Keep their names out of your stinking unbrushed-teeth mouths.”

The former England striker paid tribute to the departing trio, but he asked why Sky’s decision to ‘evolve’ their coverage should trigger responses aimed at the colour of someone’s skin who is not related to the matter.

“These guys – Matt Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson – they’ve had an unbelievable run. It’s been a great show (but) this happens to everybody in the industry,” Wright added.

“This is Sky’s decision to evolve the show, and you know what, I wish them all the best. Yes you can be disappointed that it’s all come to an end for those guys, but they’ve done brilliantly.

“But why does it have to be racially driven? What’s it got to do with Black Lives Matter? Or the fact that black people may get an opportunity to get those jobs?”

The responses aimed at Richards and Scott were all the more bemusing given that neither have ever been on Soccer Saturday. Richards has featured on the BBC’s Match of the Day, while Scott has worked across football coverage on the BBC, Sky and BT Sport and has also presented The One Show alongside her role as co-host on Goals on Sunday.

Richards posted his own response on Twitter after seeing his name trending on Wednesday, and although his message was not as angry as Wright’s, it carried the same weight as he exposed the motives behind “some uncomfortable truths”.

“I saw I was trending today in relation to a brilliant & institutional Sky Sports TV show that I’ve never even been on,” said Richards, who is currently working on a new Sky documentary that will investigate the rise of racism in football and be released in November.

“The underlying insinuation of tweets immediately linking mine & Alex Scott’s names makes for some uncomfortable truths. Peace and love.”

When contacted by The Independent about the decision to axe Le Tissier, Nicholas and Thompson, a Sky spokesman said: “We are changing some parts of our football coverage – Matt, Charlie and Phil have done a great job for us over the years, and they will leave us with our sincere thanks and very best wishes.”