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Graeme Souness has sought to clarify his remarks after refusing to apologize for calling football “a man’s game” as he gave his views on Tottenham’s Premier League draw at Chelsea on Sunday.
The former Liverpool player and manager’s comments as a pundit on Sky Sports have been met with backlash, particularly considering he was sitting next to former England midfielder Karen Carney at the time, and came in the wake of the success of the Lionesses in Euro 2022 in the past. month.
“It’s always a man’s game again,” Souness said as he analyzed referee Anthony Taylor’s performance after a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge that saw Chelsea manager Thomas sent off both Tuchel, like Spurs counterpart Antonio Conte.
“I think we have got our football back, as I would like to play with football – the men, hit by hit, and the referee letting them go.”
Three-time Women’s Super League winner Eni Aluko and Beth England, part of the Euro-winning team at Wembley, slammed the comments on social media.
In a statement released to the PA news agency via Sky, Souness said: “To clarify my comments yesterday, I was referring to the two Premier League games I watched live on Sunday afternoon, plus than in the sport of soccer. Soccer is a game. for everyone to enjoy.”
Asked earlier on talkSPORT if he regretted his comments, Souness replied: “Not a word.
“I have been advocating for years that referees have such an important role to play in the success of the Premier League.
“We have to be careful what we say today and I wasn’t very good at it, but we were coming back like other leagues.
“They were whistling all the time and it wasn’t a good clock. Our game has always been unique, meatier, more in-your-face and more intense and we got away with it.
“My comments yesterday said we’ve got our game back. That’s the kind of football I remember playing.”
The Chelsea England forward said on Twitter that Souness’ comments to Sky were “disgraceful after the summer this country has just seen”.
Aluko, capped 102 times by England and now sporting director at Angel City FC, posted: ‘Awkward turtles, Graeme Souness talking about ‘it’s a man’s game again’ sat next to England centurion Karen Carney, two weeks after @Leoness finished with a 56-year-old wait and win the European Championship.”
Minutes later, Aluko added: “Football is football. Women, men, boys and girls play. Very simple.”