Gabby Logan and Richard Keys have a chequered history, with the BBC World Cup host and the former Sky Sports anchor trading barbs over the years. Keys, who is skipping the World Cup, sparked controversy with his remarks following the death of Logan's father, Terry Yorath, earlier this year.
Keys' Controversial Tribute
Following Yorath's death, Keys posted on X: "Sad to hear the news of Terry Yorath's passing. He was a warrior and won fans over wherever he played. He was great for us at Coventry and the reason I got Gabby a job at Sky. I had no idea who she was when we met, but I knew her dad. RIP Terry. Your daughter did you proud." Many felt the tribute was inappropriate, with sports broadcaster Laura Woods among the first to challenge it. Woods replied: "Sorry... but what a t**t. Said with zero surprise." Former BBC Sport presenter Dan Walker also urged Keys to revise his tribute, writing: "Richard, just imagine what it would be like for Gabby, or a member of her family, to read this."
Libel Action
In 2022, Keys warned he would pursue "libel action" against Logan following her account of an incident involving him and former Sky Sports pundit Andy Gray in her autobiography, 'The First Half'. Logan alleged Keys and Gray made "cruel" remarks about her during a flight in 2005. She wrote: "Even years after I'd left Sky, it appeared I was still fair game for Gray and Keys. I sat a row behind them on a flight to Istanbul for the Champions League Final in 2005, which I was covering for ITV. I was seven months pregnant with twins, and I was huge."
Keys Targets Match of the Day
Shortly after it was announced that Logan, Mark Chapman, and Kelly Cates would succeed Gary Lineker on Match of the Day, Keys launched an attack on Logan. Posting on his blog, he wrote: "Gabby Logan is someone else I opened the door for. I did that because her dad had played for Coventry and I was a big fan! She's good – but a handful." He also suggested the beloved highlights programme was living on borrowed time, adding: "MotD desperately needs fresh blood, but I'm not sure it will survive for very much longer."
Keys has also been critical of the World Cup, saying: "FIFA can't sell tickets - not just because of the cost of travel - but because people don't want to visit America whilst that orange baby (I could’ve gone stronger) is in the White House. I'm one of them. I won't be there."
