Richard Keys has been called an "unemployable dinosaur" by a Match of the Day commentator after the former Sky Sports presenter slammed the iconic BBC show.
Keys and his long-time colleague Andy Gray have moved into the podcast world since leaving their roles at beIN SPORTS, which broadcasts the Premier League in the Middle East and North Africa. The pair relocated to Qatar after being axed by Sky Sports in 2011 for making sexist remarks about female referees and executives.
Since returning to the UK, the pair has launched their own podcast, Keys and Gray Unleashed. In the most recent episode, Keys said he felt Match of the Day is no longer fit for purpose in the social media age, given that match highlights are now widely available shortly after the final whistle.
Keys criticises show's relevance
He said: "When [Gary] Lineker left Match of the Day, there was a big fuss about who was going to present the programme going forward and my attitude then and remains, 'Who cares?'
"It doesn't matter. Match of the Day is a programme well past its sell-by date. It was when Gary was presenting it. Who watches it? By the time it goes to air, everybody knows what's happened in the day.
"Highlights are available from 5.15pm on most social media outlets. They even let commentators, in an eight-minute edit, do team news at the top. Why? What's the point of that?"
Commentator hits back
He criticised the near £400,000 Alan Shearer received for his punditry work last year and mocked the quality of the BBC's football coverage, adding: "The BBC still think they cover football better than anyone else. Not since 1992 [when Sky Sports began showing the Premier League], guys."
Keys' verdict has irritated one Match of the Day commentator, Dan O'Hagan, who shot back on X, posting: "So, this is to be their format then. A pair of old, unemployable dinosaurs saying mildly controversial things for clicks.
"No better than the YouTubers or the s***-takes-for-likes influencers. Quite sad really, especially as Gray was genuinely the best co-commentator around."
Lineker's departure and Shearer's role
Lineker fronted Match of the Day from 1999 to 2025 before departing last summer. Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan now split presenting responsibilities between them.
There have been suggestions of behind-the-scenes friction due to BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski's ambitions to steer the iconic programme in a fresh direction. Claims that Shearer had chosen to limit his appearances on the show to once a month have been dismissed by the corporation.
A BBC spokesperson said: "The suggestion that Alan is reducing his Match of the Day appearances because of the director of sport is untrue."
Shearer has confirmed his intention to cut back on his appearances but insists he remains on good terms with everyone at the corporation. He said in a statement: "Cutting back my MOTD appearances is something we've been discussing for some time and purely so I can have some weekends back. I've always had a positive relationship with everyone at the BBC and that continues to be the case."
