'It’s being ruined for this Women agenda': Soccer legend under fire for saying female commentators can't be taken seriously

Former English soccer player Joey Barton has faced backlash for commenting that women shouldn't be "speaking with any kind of authority" in men's soccer, along with saying there is a "woke" agenda at play.

Barton, who played 15 years in the top leagues in England and Scotland, took to his X account to express his dismay with female soccer commentators.

"Women shouldn’t be talking with any kind of authority in the men’s game. Come on. Let’s be serious. It’s a completely different game," Barton claimed. "If you don’t accept that. We will always see things differently. The women’s game is thriving. Fantastic to see. I cannot take a thing they say serious in the men’s arena," he added before concluding with a hashtag that read "namaste."

According to the Independent, who called Barton's comments "sexist," the former player also compared female commentators to him "talking about knitting or netball."

"You cannot watch a game now without hearing the nonsense," he reportedly said, along with that "any man who says otherwise is an absolute fart parcel." Barton also allegedly called several users on X “eunuchs."

Responses from women in soccer were almost immediate. TNT Sports broadcaster Laura Woods said the comments "only encourage a pile on for the women getting on with their jobs. Or was that the intention?”

Emma Hayes, manager for English team Chelsea, remarked that the "realities are male privilege has always been at the center of football in this country."

"We’re routinely used to dealing with systemic misogyny, bullying, and behavior that has been pretty normal for a large part of the football public," she claimed.

Barton doubled down days later, however, saying that broadcasters have all been playing the "woke, divisivity [sic] and equality cards on the screens."

"Majority white and middle aged in position of power, reward and influence. The best person for the job should get the job. Not the right colour. Not someone who ticks a box," he continued, before adding a few expletives. "It’s not the same game I grew up loving. It’s being ruined for this Women agenda."

Barton later responded on X to a video of female broadcasters on the BBC, which featured former women's player Alex Scott defending girls in the sport.

"To all the women in football, in front of the camera, behind it, the players on the pitch, to everyone that attends games: Keep being the role models that you continue to be. To all those young girls that are told 'no you can't,' football is a better place with us in it."

Directly to Scott, Barton stated, "Sorry. You don’t have a clue. And you were a really, bad player compared to even a Sunday League player."

The 41-year-old also suggested that the winner of the women's professional league should play a match against the winner of the amateur FA Sunday Cup, with Barton adding that if the men's team loses he would take back everything he said.

Most recently, Barton was the manager of soccer club Bristol City Rovers in England, where he stayed from February 2021 to October 2023. He was reportedly fired for the team's poor performance.

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