Richard Keys threatens Sian Massey over sexism interview

Keys and Andy Gray were sacked by Sky Sports in 2011 after audio emerged of them making sexist remarks about assistant referee Massey.

Keys took exception on Saturday morning to her account of a phone call the presenter made to apologise for his remarks.

Massey-Ellis told The Times: “When Richard rang to apologise on behalf of both of them, and he said, ‘I’m sorry’, I just said, ‘For me, I thought you would know better’.”

However Keys denied this on Twitter, claiming he had a recording of the conversation and calling her interview a “bad move”.

He said: “She said 'oh come on - it was only banter (her words) I expected it last week at Sunderland'.

“Ms Massey also added 'thanks for not showing the one I cocked up really badly'. I've got a record of it all Sian. Bad move.”

The leak of Keys and Gray’s comments about Massey in 2011, in which the pair speculated that a female linesman would not understand the offside rule, sparked the release of a series of embarrassing clips that led to the pair’s departure from Sky Sports.

They are now based in Qatar working for BEIN Sports.

Massey-Ellis continues to run the line in Premier League matches and is an elite referee in women’s football.