Former Match of the Day presenter Des Lynam, 81, has sparked controversy by suggesting female pundits are not qualified to speak about the men's game.
Lynam, who used to present the BBC's football show between 1988–1999, sat down with The Times just months after Joey Barton's scathing attacks on women working in men's football.
Lynam explained how he had no issue with female presenters but raised his concerns over female pundits, claiming they haven't played at the level they are speaking about.
This is not the first time Lynam has been critical of female pundits. In 2012 the 81-year-old referred to the female voice as 'grating' and 'not so attractive for actual commentating'.
Lynam received backlash on social media for his comments regarding female pundits, with some X users describing his as a 'dinosaur' that needs to 'move with the times'.
Former Match of the Day presenter Des Lynam, 81, has sparked controversy by suggesting female pundits are not qualified to speak about the men's game
Joey Barton (pictured left) has been vocal about the role of female pundits in the men's game
Speaking to The Times, Lynam said: 'I've got no gripe with female presenters, but when you're a pundit and you're offering opinions about the game, you have to have played it at the level you are talking - ie, the men's game.'
This is not the first time Lynam has criticised female pundits. When writing about the BBC's Olympics coverage for the London 2012 Games, Lynam referred to the sound of the female voice as 'grating'.
'I have come to the conclusion that while female presenters have done a fine job, the female voice is not so attractive for actual commentating and in some cases became grating.'
His comment sparked outrage on X at the time, with one user saying: 'Just seen Des Lynam's thoughts on female commentators. Fully reinforces why its time for the old guard to be replaced.'
Lynam's views on female pundits could cause controversy once again given the uproar following Joey Barton's scathing attack on female pundits.
The former footballer initially suggested that 'women shouldn’t be talking with any kind of authority in the men’s game' and even threatened to cancel his Sky Sport subscription unless they were removed from the panel.
Barton went on to criticise broadcasters Alex Scott, Laura Woods, and Bianca Westwood among others, while calling it 'dangerous' for women to work at men's clubs due to them 'having full-blown affairs and costing people marriages'.
Meanwhile, in The Times interview, Lynam went on to share his opinion on Gary Lineker's salary at the BBC given he is the highest paid on-air talent for the sixth consecutive year.
Barton has been particularly vocal about Eni Aluko's involvement in the men's side of the game
Lynam also shared his thoughts on Gary Lineker's (pictured above) salary at the BBC
He said: 'I don't suppose you can justify it in terms of what a nurse or fireman does, but it's the market - that's what the BBC feel they have to pay to get his services. You can't say that anybody saying a few words into a television screen is worth more than someone who saves lives, but money dictates. He's a very lucky chap.'
According to the BBC's reports in July 2023, Lineker was paid between £1,350,000 and £1,354,999 for work including Match Of The Day, coverage of the World Cup 2023 and Sports Personality Of The Year.
Meanwhile, the reports stated Zoe Ball was the broadcaster's second highest paid talent, and the highest paid woman with a salary of £980,000 - £984,999 for her Radio 2 breakfast show and a Radio 2 tribute to Terry Wogan.
Lineker first topped the list for 2017/18 with a pay bracket of £1,750,000 to £1,759,999, and in 2020 it was announced he had taken a voluntary pay cut. His earnings remain static despite his huge Twitter row earlier this year.