The sports broadcasting world has been rocked by a fresh controversy involving former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys, following what many have deemed a tasteless tribute to the late football legend Terry Yorath.
A Tribute or a Dig?
The sad news of Terry Yorath's passing was announced on Thursday following a short illness. His daughter, renowned broadcaster Gabby Logan, left her duties on BBC's Match of the Day mid-broadcast on Wednesday night to rush to his side.
In response, Richard Keys, 68, now working for beIN Sports in the Middle East, posted a message on X. He wrote: 'Sad to hear the news of Terry Yorath’s passing. He was a warrior & won fans over wherever he played. He was great for us at Coventry & 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.'
The post was widely interpreted as a veiled reference to Keys' long-running and acrimonious feud with Gabby Logan, rather than a straightforward tribute to her father.
Broadcasters Voice Their Outrage
Presenter Laura Woods was among the first to publicly condemn Keys' remarks. She posted in reply: 'Sorry…but what a t**t. Said with zero surprise.' She later added a message of support for Logan and her family, writing: 'Also want to add my respects to the thousands of others who are showing theirs compassionately to a much beloved broadcaster and her family. Sending all my love x.'
Former BBC colleague Dan Walker also jumped to Logan's defence. He replied to Keys directly: 'Richard, just imagine what it would be like for Gabby, or a member of her family, to read this. I’m hoping you have just worded this badly and it isn’t a dig at a really difficult time. There is still time to change it.'
The Background of a Bitter Feud
The animosity between Keys and Logan stems from allegations she made in her 2022 memoir. Logan, who now works for BBC Sport and Prime Video, accused Keys and his broadcast partner Andy Gray of making deeply inappropriate comments about pregnant women in her presence while she was expecting twins in 2005.
She wrote that the pair conducted a 'comedy' routine in a business-class cabin, with Gray stating he did not find pregnant women attractive and had not slept with his wife during her pregnancies. Logan described feeling embarrassed and said the comments were 'especially cruel'.
Logan also referenced the incident that led to Keys and Gray leaving Sky Sports in 2011, after they were recorded making sexist remarks about lineswoman Sian Massey.
In response to the allegations in her book, Keys vowed to take legal action, referring the matter to his lawyers and calling the claims 'wildly inaccurate'. He previously told The Telegraph: 'I did more for her (Logan), in the early part of her career, than anybody... Andy and I were easy targets.'
The latest social media post from Keys, during a time of private grief for the Yorath and Logan family, has reignited the dispute and drawn significant criticism from within the industry and beyond.
