3 April 2017
Women in Football are deeply disappointed and concerned by the threatening language used by Sunderland manager David Moyes towards BBC reporter, Vicki Sparks. We are calling on the FA to help educate football managers against this type of behaviour.
A spokesperson for Women in Football said: “We are pleased that David Moyes has apologised. No one should be made to feel threatened in the workplace for simply doing their job.
“We hope that the football authorities will work with us to educate football managers and those working within the game to prevent this kind of behaviour.”
Moyes was interviewed for Match of the Day by BBC reporter Vicki Sparks after Sunderland’s goalless Premier League draw at home to Burnley on March 18th.
Moyes took offence to Sparks’ question about whether the presence of Black Cats owner Ellis Short at the game meant the manager's job was under threat.
The cameras were still recording when Moyes made the remarks to the reporter after the interview:
“It was getting a wee bit naughty at the end there so just watch yourself.
“You still might get a slap even though you’re a woman. Careful the next time you come in.”
Moyes has since apologised for the comments.
Speaking at a media conference on Monday he said: “It was in the heat of the moment and I deeply regret the comments that were made.
“I accept that it was a mistake. I spoke to the BBC reporter who accepted my apology and hopefully we can all move on.”
In a WIF survey conducted by Professor Sue Bridgewater and released in March 2016, 61 per cent of respondents had witnessed sexism in the workplace with 46 per cent – almost half – having experienced it themselves.
Recent TUC research conducted in collaboration with the Everyday Sexism Project showed that more than half (52%) of women, and nearly two-thirds (63%) of women surveyed aged 18-24 said they had experienced sexual harassment at work.
For full details of the report please click here
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