An Australian radio presenter has lost his job after making obscene comments about the country’s women’s football team.
Marty Sheargold, 53, made remarks branded as misogynistic and disrespectful on Triple M’s drive show on Monday.
Sheargold, a presenter and comedian, said he “would rather hammer a nail through the head of [his] penis” than watch Australia’s national women’s football team in next year’s Asian Cup. He followed up by asking his co-presenter: “Got any men’s sport?”
Earlier in the discussion, Sheargold had said the women’s team reminded him of “year 10 girls”.
Sheargold said to his co-host: “You know what they remind me of? Year 10 girls. All the infighting and all the friendship issues, now I’m sorry to undermine the whole sport, but that’s what I think of it.”
When his co-presenter mentioned that Australia were currently competing in the SheBelieves Cup, Sheargold interrupted and said: “Oh, she believes in what? It better be men.”
">
Sheargold had apologised for his comments in a statement on Wednesday and had been expected back on air, but Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), the parent company of Triple M, later said they had mutually agreed to part ways.
Steph Catley, the Arsenal defender who has acted as Australia captain in the absence of regular skipper Sam Kerr, said Sheargold’s comments were “completely unacceptable.”
Football Australia also condemned Sheargold’s remarks in a statement which read: “Football Australia is deeply disappointed by the unacceptable comments made by Marty Sheargold on Triple M regarding the Matildas.
“Such remarks not only diminish the extraordinary achievements and contributions of our women’s national football team, but also fail to recognise the profound impact they have had on Australian sport and society.”
Olympian Ambrosia Malone, who represents Australia in hockey, also criticised Sheargold, posting on Instagram: “All I could think about was the young girls sitting in the car with their parents, maybe on the way to or from their own training sessions hearing this.
“I’m sure many of them would have been hurt and confused… I was in disbelief. This is apparently acceptable on mainstream afternoon radio? How?”
It is not the first time Sheargold has caused controversy. In October 2023, it was alleged he had been heard swearing at SCA’s advertising clients at the Australian Football League final. He subsequently took a break from media commitments before returning.
In March 2024, he made comments that were interpreted as anti-Semitic which received complaints from listeners.
