Match of the Day commentator Dan O'Hagan has hit back at Richard Keys, branding him an "unemployable dinosaur" after Keys criticised the BBC's Premier League highlights programme on his new podcast.
Keys and his former colleague Andy Gray have launched a podcast called 'Keys & Gray Unleashed' after leaving Qatar, where they had worked for beIN SPORTS for 13 years. The pair had moved to the Middle East following their sacking by Sky Sports in 2011 over sexist comments.
Keys' criticism of Match of the Day
In the latest episode, Keys argued that Match of the Day is no longer fit for purpose in the age of social media. 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?"
He added: "By the time it goes to air everybody knows what's happened in the day. Highlights are available from 5.15 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?"
Keys also criticised the £390,000 to £394,999-a-year that Alan Shearer earned for his punditry role last year. "The BBC still think they cover football better than anyone else," he concluded before looking directly down the camera. "Not since 1992 guys."
O'Hagan's response
O'Hagan, who has worked on Match of the Day and other BBC sports highlights shows, responded on X. "So, this is to be their format then," he wrote. "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 presented Match of the Day from 1999 to 2025 before stepping down last summer. Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan took over presenting duties last season.
Behind-the-scenes tensions
There have been reports of tensions behind the scenes recently due to BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski's plans to take the programme in a different direction. Reports that Shearer had decided to reduce his appearances on the show to once-a-month have been rejected by the corporation.
"The suggestion that Alan is reducing his Match of the Day appearances because of the director of sport is untrue," a spokesperson said. A statement from Shearer read: "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."
