January 25 2011 Last updated at 12:59 PM ET
LONDON (AP) -- One of British soccer's leading television commentators was fired Tuesday, a day after being taken off the air and temporarily suspended for making sexist remarks about a female match official.Andy Gray, the face of Sky Sports' soccer coverage for the past two decades, was dismissed by the broadcaster after "new evidence of unacceptable and offensive behavior" that took place off-air last month.
The former Scotland striker and broadcast colleague Richard Keys had been reprimanded and removed from duty Monday for making derogatory comments about lineswoman Sian Massey, former referee Wendy Toms and West Ham executive Karren Brady.
"Andy Gray's contract has been terminated for unacceptable behavior," Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis said Tuesday. "We have no hesitation in taking this action after becoming aware of new information today."
Francis was referring to footage that appears to show Gray making a suggestive comment and gesture toward Sky Sports colleague Charlotte Jackson in the studio.
The 55-year-old Gray was broadcasting the Premier League match between Wolverhampton and Liverpool on Saturday when he and Keys make disparaging remarks about Massey, who was officiating the game.
Gray questioned whether Massey knew the offside rule, a barometer of basic soccer knowledge, and made an abusive reference to Toms, saying she had been "hopeless" as a lineswoman.
The remarks were leaked to a Sunday newspaper. More footage that compromised Gray and another member of Sky Sports' commentary team-Andy Burton-was also passed to the media. Burton was taken off the air Tuesday.
Burton was talking to Gray off-air on the touchline at Molineux before the kickoff on Saturday and said: "Apparently a female lino today, bit of a looker."
In another remark on Massey's appearance, Burton added that another member of the Sky Sports crew said Massey was "all right," adding: "Now, I don't know if I should trust his judgment on that?"
Gray then said: "No, I wouldn't. I definitely wouldn't ... I can see her from here," before swearing and adding: "What do women know about the offside rule?"
Gray didn't publicly apologized for his remarks, unlike Keys, who telephoned Massey on Monday.
The 25-year-old Massey has been withdrawn as a lineswoman for Tuesday's fourth-tier league match between Crewe and Bradford, the Professional Game Match Officials organization said Tuesday.
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