Campaigners call for apology but journalist said she took no offence
Equality organisations have criticised a football manager for calling a female sports presenter a “good girl.”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers made the off-the-cuff remark to the BBC’s Jane Lewis after his side’s 3-1 win at Motherwell on Sunday.
It led to the Scottish Feminist Network and For Women Scotland demanding Rodgers to apologise.
Interviewed by Lewis, Rodgers said: "The story has already been written about this group. But we will write our own story."
When Lewis asked what he meant, Rodgers replied: "No, no, you know exactly what I mean" before concluding "done, good girl, well done" then ended the interview.
Despite Lewis saying she took no offence at the remark, campaign groups weighed in with criticism.
For Women Scotland said Rodgers' comments showed casual sexism is still embedded in sport.
A spokesperson said: "Women's achievements are underrated and dismissed, and their professional status undermined. Rodgers owes the reporter an apology."
The Scottish Feminist Network added: "That the go-to attitude of a manager of a winning team was condescension is quite illuminating but really very depressing in 2024.
"We thought dinosaurs were extinct."
However sports journalist Heather Dewar said she did not believe Brendan Rodgers was being sexist and instead was guilty of being patronising.
She said: "I think it was an ill judged comment and I think it was quite patronising. ‘Good girl’ - whether he was having a joke or not, I’ve no idea."
It's important the media continues to highlight these stories. TFN should be praised for taking a balanced approach by highlighting the fact Jane Lewis was not offended and the remark was "off-the-cuff", especially when mainstream news has been trying to raise a gender war with this issue. Men continue to use patronising language when it comes to women but each instance should be taken in context. Brendan here was obviously irked and was deliberately patronising. But, taken in perspective, that is all it was. An apology from Brendan would put it to bed.