Broadcasting Duo Richard Keys and Andy Gray to End Careers After Qatar Departure
Veteran football presenters Richard Keys and Andy Gray are poised to permanently exit the broadcasting world upon their departure from beIN Sports in Qatar later this year. The pair, who have fronted coverage for the network for 13 years, are not expected to continue their on-screen roles after returning to the United Kingdom.
Mutual Agreement Marks End of Qatar Stint
Keys, 68, and Gray, 70, have reportedly reached a mutual agreement with beIN Sports to part ways at the conclusion of the 2025-26 football season. Their exit is described as amicable, with both presenters planning to relocate to the UK. Keys is set to move in permanently with his wife, Lucie Rose, whom he married in 2013.
The Telegraph indicates that neither man is anticipated to pursue further broadcasting opportunities upon their return. This development suggests a definitive end to their long careers in sports media, which began prominently at Sky Sports.
World Cup Coverage and Past Controversies
As part of their departure, Keys and Gray are not expected to anchor beIN Sports' coverage of the upcoming World Cup, despite having led the network's presentation during the 2022 tournament in Qatar. Their exit follows a storied history in football broadcasting, marred by a significant controversy in 2011.
The duo were previously the faces of Sky Sports' Premier League coverage until Gray was dismissed for making sexist remarks about assistant referee Sian Massey. Keys resigned shortly after when recordings of his own comments were made public. In the recordings, Keys suggested someone should "explain offside" to Massey, while Gray questioned the presence of a female linesman.
Keys has since claimed that "dark forces" were at play, alleging they were set up. He stated, "The incident, we should have seen coming. It was a set-up, of course it was. But they made capital out of it." He added that neither was caught on an open microphone, implying the recordings were made with specific intent.
Legacy and Future Prospects
Having spent over a decade in Qatar covering the Premier League and Champions League, Keys and Gray's return to the UK marks a significant shift. Their careers, which once defined football broadcasting in the UK, now appear to be concluding without plans for a media comeback. This move underscores a broader transition in sports presentation, as veteran figures step aside.
The decision to leave broadcasting aligns with their ages and the natural progression of long-term careers. While their tenure at beIN Sports was successful, the lack of future broadcasting engagements signals a quiet retirement from the public eye. Fans and industry observers will note this as the end of an era for two of football's most recognizable voices.
