Richard Keys has reignitied his bitter feud with Laura Woods (Image: GETTY/BEIN SPORTS)
Richard Keys has called on Laura Woods to treat him with respect after the pair of television presenters clashed on social media. Keys went viral for entirely the wrong reasons on X (formerly Twitter) following his post regarding the death of Terry Yorath. Yorath, a Welsh football icon and Leeds United legend, passed away aged 75 in January. He was the father of Gabby Logan, the well-known sports presenter and television personality.
Former Sky Sports and beIN SPORTS presenter Keys, 68, drew fierce criticism for his peculiar tribute. He wrote: « Sad to hear the news of Terry Yorath’s passing. He was a warrior and won fans over wherever he played. He was great for us at Coventry and the reason I got Gabby a job at Sky. I had no idea who she was when we met but I knew her dad. RIP Terry. Your daughter did you proud. »
ITV and talkSPORT presenter Woods replied: « Sorry… but what a t***. Said with zero surprise. »
Keys appeared baffled by the backlash and subsequently attempted to clarify his remarks. Yet, months on, it seems Woods’ words continue to sting.
« I would never, ever have described a senior member of my profession as a t***, » he told The Telegraph. « A little bit more respect, please. »
In a subsequent post on X, Keys endeavoured to explain his original intention.
« What a shame my words for a footballing hero of mine were entirely misinterpreted, » he wrote.
« Terry Yorath was a fabulous guy. A warrior. My affection for him meant I was more than happy to help him and his family in any way I could. Gabby’s career would make any father proud. RIP Terry. »
Keys has relocated back to the UK after 13 years working for Qatari broadcaster beIN SPORTS.
Keys caused controversy with a post about Gabby Logan’s father (Image: BeIN Sports)
He has settled in west London with his wife Lucie, 31 years his junior, and has given an interview to The Telegraph reflecting on various topics.
Keys and his long-standing colleague Andy Gray departed for Qatar following their controversial exit from Sky Sports and the UK in 2011.
They were compelled to leave the company after footage emerged of them making sexist comments about assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis.
Keys subsequently claimed the incident was a ‘set-up’ orchestrated by ‘dark forces’ to oust them.
That notorious incident, alongside another personal encounter, prompted Logan to describe the duo in her 2022 memoir as ‘dinosaurs, waiting to become extinct’.
And Keys has now acknowledged that the manner in which he and Gray conducted themselves antagonised numerous people.
« We were bullies, » he said. « We had to bully our way into the business, and that culture was very much from within. We became bullies as people. That’s not an excuse, because today it just wouldn’t be tolerated.
« It was a culture that existed, and it had to in order for us to make it. I say that hesitatingly, because it sounds like I’m excusing it. I’m not, I’m admitting it. But I also know that if it hadn’t been like that, we wouldn’t have made it. »
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