Jeff Stelling has hit back at a reporter who branded Alan Brazil ‘a dinosaur’ after the talkSPORT presenter’s rant about women’s football.
Brazil was called out on Thursday morning’s breakfast show by co-host Shebahn Aherne when he claimed that Manchester United fans around the world are ‘not bothered’ about the success of the women’s team and are solely focused on the men’s team.
His comments have sparked plenty of heated debates online with many people arguing the opposite. But Stelling took exception to one women’s football journalist calling Brazil a dinosaur.
The former Sky Sports presenter wrote to Tom Garry: “As a journalist you should be able to find a less disrespectful description of Alan. Do you call your bosses dinosaurs too as they are doubtless older than you?”
Garry argued his corner, writing back: “I thought he was patronising, arrogant and quite rude to a female colleague, live on air, Jeff. Do you prefer that description?
“Age is not the reason the word dinosaur felt relevant. Condescending comments towards women working in football – that’s what should be extinct by now.”
Brazil, a former Scotland international, Aherne and Gabby Agbonlahor were discussing Manchester United’s Mission 21: a plan designed to help the club capture a 21st league title before 2028. Sir Dave Brailsford and James Morton have also produced a Mission 1 plan, which is focused on United’s women winning a maiden WSL title.
But Brazil insisted the majority of fans were ‘not bothered’ about that, saying: “With the greatest respect, when you talk about Manchester United…women’s football is getting more important now but when you talk about Manchester United, this is the men’s we’re talking about, the Premier League when we’re talking about mission impossible, not the women’s.”
Aherne interjected to argue back, saying fans do care about Manchester United’s women’s team and how they’re doing, making the point that Brazil sounded out of touch.
But he doubled down, adding: “It isn’t (a priority). I’m sorry, people around them are not bothered. It is true. They’re not [bothered]. Within the bigger picture, they’re not.
“No, the bigger picture is fans want to see Manchester United in the Premier League challenging. That’s the bigger picture. It’s not that important compared to the bigger picture. I’m not going to sit here and lie because it’s not. It’s not! I’m telling you the truth, it’s not!”
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