Laura Woods has hit out at Joey Barton over his criticism of female commentators, after the former Manchester City and Newcastle United midfielder said they were “ruining” football.
Barton sparked controversy with a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday and Thursday, hitting out at female commentators working in the men’s game.
The former Fleetwood Town and Bristol Rovers manager wrote on Wednesday: “Any man who listens to Women commentary or co-comms needs their heads testing… #sticktoyourowngame.”
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That comment attracted plenty of criticism across social media, prompting Barton to follow up with further posts on Thursday, saying the presence of female commentators and pundits had “gone too far” and describing those who disagreed with him as “eunuchs”.
Barton also hit out at his former club City for hiring a female vlogger, criticising her work on a recent UEFA Champions League game against RB Leipzig, which attracted the ire of Woods.
Women shouldn’t be talking with any kind of authority in the men’s game. Come on. Let’s be serious.
It’s a completely different game.
If you don’t accept that. We will always see things differently.
The women’s game is thriving. Fantastic to see.
I cannot take a thing they…
— Joey Barton (@Joey7Barton) December 6, 2023
“I usually avoid these conversations as I don’t like adding more oxygen, but throwing young vloggers to the wolves is wrong,” the TNT Sports and talkSPORT presenter said in response to Barton.
“I started my career vlogging and I’ve always got on with Joey. He also sent me a lovely good luck message for TNT in June. Does that make him a eunuch too?
“Joey’s entitled to his opinion. If he feels that strongly about women in the men’s game he could ask for a private conversation with the broadcasters and state his case.
“These tweets only encourage a pile on for the women getting on with their jobs. Or was that the intention?”
Joey’s entitled to his opinion. If he feels that strongly about women in the men’s game he could ask for a private conversation with the broadcasters & state his case.
These tweets only encourage a pile on for the women getting on with their jobs. Or was that the intention? https://t.co/1bsOjmvjHB
— Laura Woods (@laura_woodsy) December 7, 2023
