Joey Barton backs Kevin Keegan’s criticism of female football pundits
Former England manager Kevin Keegan recently revealed his dislike for female pundits talking about the men’s game, and his comments have angered many. However, Joey Barton, who played under Keegan during his playing career at Manchester City and Newcastle, has supported his former manager’s view.
Keegan was speaking at ‘An Evening With Kevin Keegan OBE’ in Bristol last Friday when he said: ‘I don’t like to listen to ladies talking about the England men’s team at the match because I don’t think it’s the same experience. I have a problem with that.’
Barton responded to Keegan’s comments on X, writing: ‘Kevin Keegan. Ballon D’or winner 1978. England manager. He’s bang on.’
Keegan’s View on Female Pundits
Keegan believes that female pundits are not qualified to talk about the men’s game – even if they have played at a professional level. He said: ‘The presenters we have now, some of the girls are so good, they are better than the guys. It’s a great time for the ladies.
‘But if I see an England lady footballer saying about England against Scotland at Wembley and she’s saying, ‘if I would have been in that position I would have done this,’ I don’t think it’s quite the same. I don’t think it crosses over that much.’
Despite his criticism of female pundits in men’s football, Keegan claims he is a big supporter of the women’s game. He said: ‘When I was England manager [from February 1999 to October 2000] I went to coach the England ladies and I had this perception of what the quality would be like and they were so much better than I thought they were going to be. I joined in and then I thought, ‘I’m getting out of this!’, I couldn’t get the bloody ball and one of them nutmegged me, that finished me off.’
Conclusion
Keegan’s comments have sparked debate over the role of female pundits in men’s football, with Joey Barton supporting his former manager’s view. While Keegan believes female pundits are not qualified to talk about the men’s game, he claims to be a big supporter of the women’s game.
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