In defence of Graeme Souness’ ‘man’s game’ comments

‘Language please, there are ladies present’, that was the kind of thing you would occasionally hear when some possibly overly refreshed male would forget himself and lapse into vulgarity in the presence of what was then referred to as the ‘fairer sex’. But if you thought such days were long gone, and such interjections now patronising and archaic, then think again. For at least in the sports studios of our major broadcasters it seems men must be as on the alert and careful with their language as ever. Just ask Graeme Souness.

The former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder is in hot water after comments made at the end of a couple of feisty Premiership encounters that saw one player shoved violently to the ground, another’s hair yanked so hard he toppled over, and two managers red carded after squaring up to each other like rutting stags. Souness enjoyed it all immensely and saw it as a return to the passionate, free flowing, rough and tumble game of his playing days.