Will EA drop Andy Gray for FIFA 12?

By Fred Dutton Published 25 January, 2011

Disgraced pundit's digital future unclear.

Sky Sports' has made it pretty clear this week that it doesn't jive too well with sexism in professional football, giving pundit Andy Gray the boot for disparaging remarks he made regarding female match official Sian Massey.

But what of one of Gray's other paymasters, EA? Eurogamer got in touch with the publisher today to find out whether it planned to follow Sky's lead and drop the 55-year-old former Scottish international from this year's edition of its FIFA franchise, for which he has traditionally provided commentary.

A spokesperson for the publisher told us, "EA SPORTS has not made any announcements about our in-game commentators for FIFA for 2011. Those announcements will be made later this year."

The good news for Gray is that EA has some history of standing by disgraced sporting celebrities on its books. CEO John Riccitiello last year claimed it was willing to give Tiger Woods "the benefit of the doubt" following revelations about the golfer's extra-marital affairs.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (56) Latest comment 11 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • emhaslam92 #1 1 year ago

    *Fingers Crossed*

    They really need to update it. I'm sick of the same voices and phrases...

  • Markitron #2 1 year ago

    Its funny how out of hand this situation has gotten. Usually when the media goes this nuts, games are involved........

  • insinceredave #3 1 year ago

    I think they'll drop him. FIFA's presentation is all designed to be like TV and if Gray's not on TV then it'll break that spell. Tiger Woods didn't stop being a golfer when his scandal broke but Gray has ceased to be a pundit (until Channel 5 pick him up in six months anyway).

    Of course, EA (and Sky) should have got rid of him for being rubbish years ago.

  • RandyKleen #4 1 year ago

    Anyone else just pleased to see the smug grin get wiped off Andy Gray's face?

  • Bleemo #5 1 year ago

    "Anyone else just pleased to see the smug grin get wiped off Andy Gray's face?"

    Nope everyone I have spoken too on the matter seems pleased, now for that smarmy git Keys.

  • stuarty_2003 #6 1 year ago

    Bit of a witch hunt, I think.

    Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand were kept on after far worse behaviour.

  • Findus #7 1 year ago

    With the integrated Sky Sports logos and stuff in 2011 I wonder if Sky will have a say in whether an ex employee can represent their brand. Somehow I doubt it.

  • tossetaz #8 1 year ago

    Can't really compare this situation to Tiger Woods, the difference is in the name of the game, it's not Andy Gray's FIFA 12. They will drop him.

  • Markitron #9 1 year ago

    Yea but Ross and Brand arnt total c**ts

  • BabyJesus #10 1 year ago

    I find it interesting that this has came out just when Gray is in the process of suing news corp.

    /Adjusts tinfoil hat

  • bad09 #11 1 year ago

    Some women are on the pitch, they think it's all over. It is now!

  • beetleman99 #12 1 year ago

    I don't think there's any benefit to give. And it won't matter too much if he goes, as unlike Tiger Woods, he isn't the cover star. They need to update the commentary anyway, and no-one really noticed when they dropped John Motson and Ally McCoist a few years ago.

  • The-Bodybuilder #13 1 year ago

    Tiger Woods is still the biggest brand in golf, and in the world of sports.
    Andy Gray is.......well.

    Teek-a-boo on your carrier Andy, teek-a-boo.

  • Ryze #14 1 year ago

    Can you IMAGINE the number of phrases they have recorded, that they'll have to do from scratch if they replace him?

  • wizlon #15 1 year ago

    Kick him off the squad, there's no need for saying shit like that. Fair play on and off the pitch!

  • hello_fi #16 1 year ago

    Nothing like the British media to hound someone from their job for a brief moment of off-air banter.

    Deserved? Do me a favour, love.

  • sfp_noodle #17 1 year ago

    They'll have to get rid of him, there's no 2 ways about it. Fifa tries to replicate the game as realistic as possible so having Andy Gray there will take that away. Also, I'm sick of his voice and the same repetitive dialogue. Use Alan Smith's voice in the next one. Doesn't sound like a knob, isn't up himself and actually provides some good punditry.

  • Jonny5Alive7 #18 1 year ago

    Tiger Woods is slightly more important to their Golf franchise than Andy Gray is to FIFA!

  • higganos #19 1 year ago

    As far as I'm led to believe, he WAS going to be kept on - albeit severly reprimanded- but new footage (which looked to be mobile-based), has fortuitously been unearthed showing Gray with his hands down his jeans, whilst making lewd comments to fellow Sky Sports presenter Charlotte Jackson. This was the "Final straw" apparently.

  • DreadedWalrus #20 1 year ago

    Andy Gray looks so much like Rush Limbaugh it's disturbing.
    [link url=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pLmMug9YFkw/TI0UscXKDxI/AAAAAAAACG4/ly_nH2_rd5s/s1600/rush-limbaugh.jpg
    ]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pLmMug9YFkw/TI...[/link]
    http://www.arsenalhighlights.com/wp-cont...

  • t8yman #21 1 year ago

    He's a sexist prick, he's got to go. You can't speak to female coworkers like that.

  • DanWhitehead #22 1 year ago

    I find it interesting that this has came out just when Gray is in the process of suing news corp.

    /Adjusts tinfoil hat

    And when Murdoch is furiously lobbying Cameron to let him buy the rest of BSkyB and squeeze the BBC out of the picture.

    /Makes an even larger tinfoil hat. Adjusts it at a rakish angle

  • INSOMANiAC #23 1 year ago

    Lets hope so, the guys a fucking biased prick

  • blackbriar101 #24 1 year ago

    Take a P45 son.

  • makeamazing #25 1 year ago

    Bit of a witch hunt, I think.

    Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand were kept on after far worse behaviour.

    To be honest i think both have been a witch hunt, but thats what our media are so good at doing. I mean, do people really think that other people having been thinking the same thing or making the same comments... i am sure people hear much worse where they work... the only thing i would say is that i wouldn't say anything controversial if i had a mike on even if it was switched off, as it will be used against you (as Gordon brown found out).

  • nodrick #26 1 year ago

    YEs I'm sure sky will still parade the soccerette on Soccer AM ... no double standards

  • nswan #27 1 year ago

    Was he not sacked for the comments that came to light today regarding asking a female sky presenter if she would stick a mic down his trousers for him. He was only warned over the comments regardign the match official.

  • hiddenranbir #28 1 year ago

    Of course they will drop him.

    It is a shame enough that they just copy pasted the commentary for the past few years leaving with horribly out-dated dialogue.

  • kgthatsme #29 1 year ago

    Bring back Ron!

  • metamorphic #30 1 year ago

    To be honest, I'd rather just have John Motson back to commentate FIFA. Those were the days...

    But sacking Andy Gray simply based on that and not his broadcasting/presenting abilities would to me resemble more of a sham rather than an informed decision. Play your cards right, EA.

  • mumblyjoe #31 1 year ago

    As long as they dont replace him with Jim Beglin I couldn't give a rats ass, that guy makes footy on ITV unbearable.

  • AusFreelancer #32 1 year ago

    As long as they leave Martin Tyler as the main commentator (with less repetitious dialogue) then I don't really give a tit ;)

  • gjgjg #33 1 year ago

    they should keep him and introduce female lines...persons in game, then write commentary for him praising their decisions.

  • barchetta #34 1 year ago

    Maybe team ninja will pick him up for some DOA beach volleyball commentaries. They'd deserve each other.

  • HL706 #35 1 year ago

    I was more disgusted him and Keys suggested she wasn't hot. I'd do her in a second :)

  • Spence1115 #36 1 year ago

    @Ryze

    Ten, eleven?

  • metamorphic #37 1 year ago

    @HL706: I'm feeling sorry for you mate...

  • RobotRocker #38 1 year ago

    /Makes an even larger tinfoil hat. Adjusts it at a rakish angle

    And the paper that lead the anti-Brand/Ross campaign and got the leaked tapes is the Daily Mail, which also does not want Murdoch to buy BskyB because they hate the digger getting his claws into the government when they think they should be the ones the government sucks up to.

    /makes tinfoil sombrero, goes for a siesta

  • BabyJesus #39 1 year ago

    Robot Rocker, So the choice is between a megalomaniac real life- 'shadow broker' or a reactionary right wing rag that speaks to an audience which has made its mind up already?

    I'll choose the Daily Heil.Faaaaarrrrrr less damaging reach, Daily Heil shapes and confirms a minuscule amount of people's opinions compared to the reach Murdoch has in Britain and the world.

    Ugh, I feel dirty.

  • Optyk #40 1 year ago

    What did he say? I can't understand him in that video

  • SandyMcD #41 1 year ago

    Shit, I didn't realise he'd been canned. He's the only decent pundit on TV - I might cancel my Sky sub after this season then.

    Women aren't allowed to play in mens' football, so they shouldn't be allowed to officiate in it either.

  • barkertron #42 1 year ago

    Please please please, get someone else in. Apart from the obvious fact that everybody thinks Andy Gray is a complete twat anyway, his banter in FIFA does my head in all the time now. The countdown for how many times I can hear him say "separating them in the second half? Bit of luck, stroke of genius, something like that" without destroying my television is now in single figures.

  • DiamondIce #43 1 year ago

    @hello_fi

    Aside from what he said off-air, his on-air commentary was enough to get him kicked. I am glad he has gone. Bloody awful commentary.

    What will he do without his little toy that he uses to go on-and-on-and-on-and-on about how a player should have done this and that?
    Edited by DiamondIce at 26/01/11 @ 11:18

  • NineOverSeven #44 1 year ago

    2011 marks Lawro's return back to videogames. You heard it here first.

  • PlugMonkey #45 1 year ago

    @SandyMcD

    "Women aren't allowed to play in mens' football, so they shouldn't be allowed to officiate in it either. "

    Really. Should they be allowed to be part of the backroom staff? Should they be allowed to own / chair clubs? Should they be allowed in the stadium at all?

    Where do you draw the line in your sinister little world?

  • ozzzy189 #46 1 year ago

    load of fuss about nowt. bloody loose women is all about women's banter, sexual innuendo and flirting and no women ever complaisn about that load of shite. typical of today's society.

  • gintoki #47 1 year ago

    They better not, Andy Gray's the most entertaining commentator.

  • DavoTheDiv #48 1 year ago

    Good riddance to the vile sexist pig Andy gray. His sexist views make me sick. I hope they get a female presenter to replace him. Preferably a cute blonde with nice cans.

  • Nozzinja #49 1 year ago

    @DavoTheDiv Bravo.... Bravo

    /slow claps

  • Turrican #50 1 year ago

    Ok two things. Firstly EA will use this as a major 'feature' of Fifa 12, splashed all over the box and publicity machine with "Vastly improved commentary - New for Fifa12!!!"

    Secondly, you can neg me all you want but in terms of tactical analysis with the touchscreen and enthusiasm for the game there isn't really anyone better than Andy Gray, and while his attitude to women is clearly off he has been royaly stitched up and watching football on Sky will be worse with his absence.

    Richard Keys on the other hand...you can feel the menace and nastiness eminating from him...
    Edited by Turrican at 26/01/11 @ 14:12

  • DeltaBravoNiner #51 1 year ago

    At least we wont have to listen to him drone on and on about how he used to play for Rangers and yadda yadda shirt and tie yadda yadda... blah blah...

    Andy Gray in FIFA is a tool, he says completely random things. All replacing him will do is have another tool saying completely random things until FIFA make there commentary better. Ridiculous play is praised, thunderbolt shots off the cross bar are disgraced as wild and well over. Nothing tackles are analysed as career enders... pft, who really listens to it anyways.

    Oh and it's ok for loose women to do it (revered roles) as their show is of that ilk, Sky Sports is not.
    Edited by DeltaBravoNiner at 26/01/11 @ 15:15

  • whizzard #52 1 year ago

    Apparently Fifa 12 will have optional commentary available as downloadable content. Should your wife or girlfriend attempt to play the game Andy Gray will tell them to put the controller down, get in the kitchen and cook dinner.

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