Richard Keys sparked outrage this week with his comments about the death of Gabby Logan’s father, Terry Yorath. This is the next chapter in the ongoing tension between Logan and Keyes. Keyes’ homage to Yorath was considered by many to be bordering on sterile. The Welsh football legend and Leeds United hero has died at the age of 75, his death confirmed on Thursday morning after a short illness.
Following Yorath’s death, Keys initially posted 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 observers felt the BeIN Sports broadcaster’s compliment lacked subtlety. But the former Sky Sports anchor’s message is just the latest episode in his troubled relationship with Match of the Day host Rogan.
Laura Woods hits a triple
Sports broadcaster Laura Woods was one of the first to take issue with Keys’ unique tribute to Yorath. The TNT Sports host fired back: “I’m sorry, but what the heck. I said it without any surprise.”
She continued: “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 sports presenter Dan Walker also urged Keyes to reconsider paying tribute. “Richard, imagine what would happen if Gabby and her family read this. I hope you just said this in a bad way and nothing serious at a really difficult time. There’s still time to change that.”
Keys then addressed his comments about X, saying: “It’s unfortunate that my words about a football 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
In 2022, Keys threatened to “defame” Rogan after he described how he met former Sky Sports colleague Andy Gray in his autobiography, The First Half.
Logan joined Sky Sports in 1996 and stayed for two years before moving to ITV. She claimed that Keyes and Gray made “cruel” remarks about her on a 2005 flight.
She writes in her book: “Many years after I left Sky, I still seemed to be a fair player to Gray and Keys. I sat in the row behind them on the plane to Istanbul for the 2005 Champions League final, for ITV. I was seven months pregnant with twins and so big I felt like I had swallowed a space hopper.”
“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 allegations, Mr Keyes responded 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 allegations in the process of defaming me. I have referred the matter to my lawyer with the aim of filing a defamation lawsuit.”
Keys Blast Today’s Match
Keys launched an attack on Rogan when the three-man presenting line-up of Rogan, Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates was announced to replace Gary Lineker on last year’s Match of the Day.
He said in a blog post: “Gabby Logan is another player who opened the door for me because her father played for Coventry and I was a huge fan. She’s a good player but only a handful.
“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 hinted that the iconic highlight show was coming to an end, adding: “MotD is in desperate need of fresh blood, but I don’t know if it can survive for long. In the end, Grandstand died for the same reason – the passage of time.”
