Former Southampton midfielder Matt Le Tissier has criticised 'wokeism' and cancel culture, insisting his personal views cost him his job at Sky Sports in 2020. The 57-year-old was sacked after voicing opinions on the Covid-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Le Tissier, who was a regular on Soccer Saturday, told The Telegraph: 'I’ve always been fairly opinionated. It cost me my job at Sky and anyone who tries to tell you different doesn’t really know what they’re talking about. But I’d do the same again.' He added that he has no regrets, though the manner of his departure still irritates him.
The former player has continued to share alternative views, including a recent viral exchange with X's AI bot Grok about 'chemtrails'. In 2022, he retweeted a post suggesting the Bucha massacre in Ukraine was staged, leading Southampton to drop him as an ambassador, though he has since been welcomed back.
Le Tissier now works on the after-dinner speaking circuit and tours with former Sky colleagues Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson, Jeff Stelling and Paul Merson. He acknowledged: 'I’ll never work in television again in terms of mainstream stuff. That doesn’t bother me.'
