Shamed football pundit Richard Keys described a black player as “choco” in an outrageous racist outburst.
Keys made the shocking remark while rehearsing for a Sky broadcast with ex-footballers Graeme Souness and Ray Wilkins.
Referring to black David Johnson, a potential Scottish international, he casually called him “Choco Jocko”.
The presenter, who quit in shame in a sexism storm last month, did not realise he was live on a test channel.
It means Keys will walk into his first day in his new job at TalkSport radio station tomorrow having to answer serious questions about racism.
Last night anti-racism groups in the footballing world condemned Keys.
The disgraced pundit, whose sidekick Andy Gray was sacked from Sky Sports for sexist comments about female linesman Sian Massey, was discussing Johnson’s ineligibility to play for Scotland in a Euro 2000 play-off when he made the comment 11 years ago.
Keys explained the situation saying: “Obviously Johnson, who they’ve (Scotland) courted for some time like the Welsh, hoped to get involved and it transpires he has an English mother which means he can only play for England apparently.
“He was born in Jamaica and has played for them.”
Former Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins starts asking a question, saying: “Is it, is he not?” before
Liverpool and Scotland legend Souness interrupts and says: “He looks like a Jock doesn’t he?”
Without hesitation Keys replies: “Choco Jocko.” The sick joke is met by embarrassed laughter from others.
David Johnson, now a Nottingham-based football agent, said he was “very disappointed” to hear of the comments.
He added: “If I’d have heard him say that at the time I would have been absolutely furious.”
Ged Gebby, chief of Show Racism The Red Card, slammed Keys’ remark, saying: “There’s been a huge improvement in relation to racism in football in recent years, but individual comments are still being made, week in, week out.
“For a commentator to be making this kind of comment is outrageous.”
Keys was rehearsing at Sky’s West London studios before a UEFA Cup evening of matches when his remarks were fed out on a testing channel for a football interactive service.
Advertisement - article continues below »
The racist comment came nine days before the crucial European qualifier at Hampden Park in Glasgow, which England won 2-0.
But Key’s insults are not reserved for former Nottingham Forest player Johnson, 34. The foul-mouthed pundit also turns on former Leeds manager David O’Leary. When a pre-recorded audio clip of O’Leary talking about his team’s chances in a UEFA Cup clash is played Keys puts on a mock Irish accent, saying: “I’m the father. They’re young boys, Andy, young boys.”
After pausing to laugh he adds, “He says the same s***e every week.”
Ex-Wimbeldon manager Joe Kinnear is next on his list. When the issue of a vacant coaching job at Blackburn Rovers is mentioned Graeme Souness says: “Joe Kinnear will get that, won’t he?”
Keys, talking about ex-Wimbledon manager Dave Bassett – nicknamed “Harry” – retorts: “Don’t be daft – they need a proper manager.
"Joe would be like Harry Bassett.”
Keys, 53, then lays in to Sky viewers – the people who pay his wages.
Describing how to use the new interactive service, he says: “Press the help button at any time for information you fools.”
Explaining the process later he says: “Remember you can push the help button at any time for more information and if you can’t work this out you sad b******s shouldn’t have this kit.”
The latest scandal comes less than three weeks after Keys was forced to step down as a Sky football host.
He came under pressure from bosses after he and Andy Gray mocked female
assistant referee Sian Massey off-air.
The pair suggested she did not know the offside rule.
Three days later a leaked video showing Keys making vile, sexual comments about Jamie Redknapp’s ex-girlfriend Louise Glass was posted on YouTube and he resigned.
Keys said last night: “I absolutely refute any suggestion of any racism.
"This was off-air and 11 years ago and anyone who knows me knows that Ruud Gullit, Dion Dublin and Ian Wright are not only my past associates but some of my best friends.”
A spokesman for Sky said: “He is no longer an employee.”
What a disgusting cunt.
Last edited by Mal on Sun Feb 13, 2011 10:01 pm; edited 1 time in total
wrote:Stupid little white boy.
