Richard Keyes and Gabby Logan have a checkered history that resurfaced this week following the death of her father, Terry Yorath.
Richard Keys’ post caused controversy (Image: BeIN Sports)
Richard Keyes caused a storm this week with his comments about the death of Gabby Logan’s father Terry Yorath. However, this is not the first time that controversy has arisen between Logan and Keyes.
Keyes’ tribute to Yorath was considered by some to border on vulgarity. The Welsh football icon and Leeds United legend has died at the age of 75, it was confirmed on Thursday morning after a short illness.
Following Yorath’s death, Keys initially wrote to X: “Sad to hear of Terry Yorath’s passing. He was a warrior and a fan favorite wherever he played. He was great for us at Coventry and the reason I gave Gabby the job at Sky. I had no idea who she was when we met but her father did. Rest in peace Terry. Your daughter was so proud of you.”
Many felt that the BeIN Sports broadcaster’s offering was insensitive. But the former Sky Sports anchor’s post is just the latest in his rocky relationship with Match of the Day host Rogan.
Laura Woods hits a triple
Sports broadcaster Laura Woods was one of the first to question Keyes’ bizarre tribute to Yorath. The TNT Sports host responded: “I’m sorry, but what the heck. I said it without any surprise.”
read more: Laura Woods’ X-rated altercation with Richard Keys leaves ‘worst presenter’ abusive and death threatread more: Gabby Logan talks about their last time together, moments before Terry Yorath’s death
He added: “I would also like to pay tribute to the thousands of people who have shown their compassion to the much-loved broadcaster and his family. Sending all my love.”
Former BBC Sport presenter Dan Walker also called for Keyes to change his thoughts on paying tribute. “Richard, just imagine what would happen if Gabby or her family read this. I hope you just said this in a terrible way and it’s not terrible at a really difficult time. There’s still time to change that.”
Gabby Logan once claimed about Key in her book (Image: Getty)
Keys later addressed his comments on X, writing: “It’s unfortunate that my words for my soccer hero were completely misunderstood. Terry Yorath was a great man. A warrior. My love for him meant I was willing to help him and his family in any way I could. Gabby’s career would make any father proud. Rest in peace Terry.”
defamation lawsuit
Back in 2022, Keys threatened to take “defamation” action against Rogan after he wrote about Rogan’s encounter with former Sky Sports pundit Andy Gray in his memoir The First Half.
Logan joined Sky Sports in 1996 and remained with the company for two years before moving to ITV. Ms Logan claimed Mr Key and Mr Gray made “cruel” comments around her on a flight in 2005.
“Even though many years had passed since I left Sky, I still seemed to be a fair player to Gray and Keys. I was sitting in the row behind them on a plane to Istanbul for the 2005 Champions League final. I was reporting for ITV. I was seven months pregnant with twins and I was huge. I looked like I had swallowed a space hopper.”
Laura Woods slams Richard Keys as ‘shit’ (Image: Getty Images)
“Richard said, within earshot of me and anyone else who might have been listening in the business class cabin: ‘So, Andy, what do you think about pregnant women?’ Of course I was embarrassed, and I thought their comments were particularly cruel, bearing in mind that they also have children and wives.
“Fortunately, by that time I was working with lovely men like Ally McCoist and Andy Townsend at ITV. They were kind and caring, always concerned about my well-being and seemed genuinely excited about the baby. Keyes and Gray were dinosaurs waiting to go extinct.”
In response to these comments, Ms Keyes posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Referring to an article published in the Mail on Sunday written by Ms Gabby Logan. Ms Logan made a number of wildly inaccurate claims in the process of defaming me. I have referred the matter to my lawyer with a view to filing a defamation lawsuit.”
Keys Blast Today’s Match
Shortly after the three-man presenting team of Rogan, Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates was announced to replace Gary Lineker on last year’s Match of the Day, Keys slammed Rogan.
“Gabby Logan is another player who opened the door for me. I did it because her father played for Coventry and I was a big fan! She’s a good player, but only a handful,” he wrote on his blog.
Richard Keys once threatened a defamation lawsuit against Logan (Image: 2010 Getty Images)
“Sadly, she let down everyone at Sky with her demanding attitude, and my manager at the time, Vic Wakeling, sacked her after two years. I hear from people who worked with her that nothing has changed. Well, maybe someday.”
He also claimed that the iconic highlight show was operating on borrowed time, adding: “MotD is in desperate need of fresh blood, but I don’t think it will last long. In the end, Grandstand died for the same reason – the passage of time.”
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