BLUNDERING BBC sports commentator John Inverdale has faced a huge public backlash from Scottish women’s groups and athletes over his Olympic tennis gaffe during an interview with gold medalist Andy Murray.
Scottish Women in Sport founder Maureen McGonigle and professional Scottish badminton player Susan Egelstaff claimed he was “living in the dark ages” and insisted the BBC must clamp down on “sexist dinosaurs”.
In the latest in a string of on-air howlers, Inverdale sparked outrage after he praised Murray for becoming the first person to win two tennis golds – forgetting the Williams sisters’ four medals each.
Murray quickly put him in his place by pointing out that Venus and Serena had won more than him.
His comeback against Inverdale’s comments won praise on Twitter, including from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who wrote: “Yet another reason to love Andy Murray.”
Scottish author JK Rowling added: “As if we needed more reasons to worship @andy_murray: he just reminded John Inverdale that women are people, too.”
Egelstaff, who competed for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics, called for Inverdale to be sacked.
She said: “I think the level of sexism in sport is getting better but he has proved it is totally still there. He is a sexist dinosaur and he has to go.
“Good on Andy Murray for putting him right straight away and it is a real positive sign that Inverdale has been slagged off for being so outdated. I am not sure 10 or five years ago there would have been such a backlash from this.
“It is just a shame that there are still outdated male commentators who think women’s sport is inferior to men’s sport.
“It is so important that male athletes are now standing up for women’s sport and achievements.
“The BBC needs to take a stand here and say this is not acceptable for one of our commentators to behave like this.
“The BBC needs to get rid of him. It is not OK to have people on prime-time TV making these comments.”
Inverdale has a long history of sparking controversy and sparked an outcry this year on social media after he likened Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios to a “character from the Jungle Book”.
In 2013, following Marion Bartoli’s victory at Wimbledon, the BBC apologised after Inverdale told Radio 5 Live listeners: “Do you think Bartoli’s dad told her when she was little, ‘You’re never going to be a looker? You’ll never be a Sharapova, so you have to be scrappy and fight.”
Women’s rights campaigner McGonigle insisted the BBC must deal with Inverdale.
She said: “I think we’ve got our work cut out with people who are still living in the dark ages.
“The BBC has to deal with him and decide whether it is worthwhile working with him or cutting him off. They have to make that call. I wouldn’t call for his head but I do believe there is enough evidence in his past statements to understand there is an issue here and that has to be solved.”
“I think Andy Murray’s response was absolutely brilliant. It is not the first time he has stood up for women, he is just a real good advocate for sport for all.
“I think John Inverdale has to learn to engage his mind before he opens his mouth.”
Back home in Dunblane, Murray’s grandparents Roy and Shirley Erskine said Murray will be “on top of the world” after his Olympic victory.
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