Racist and sexist jokes trigger walkout at football awards ceremony

A football awards dinner at which Sir Alex Ferguson received a lifetime achievement award witnessed a walkout over its keynote speaker’s jokes about women, homosexuality and the Japanese.

BBC presenter Eilidh Barbour was among those to leave Sunday’s Scottish Football Writers’ Association (SFWA) awards in protest at the evening’s entertainment, which featured “misogynistic” material, as well as what guests present told Telegraph Sport had been the words “p--f” and “N-p”.

The SFWA on Monday apologised to “anyone offended or upset” by the routine delivered by Bill Copeland, a criminal barrister-turned after-dinner speaker.

Barbour posted on Twitter afterwards:

Gabriella Bennett, the co-chair of Women in Journalism Scotland, replied, posting: “I was at these awards tonight and sat through the same sexist and racist jokes made by a keynote speaker. My table walked out at the same time Eilidh’s did.”

Bennett told BBC Radio Scotland on Monday she regularly attended the SFWA dinner and that “sexist or misogynistic” jokes had been made there previously.

She added: “But last night’s speech was really next-level. I walked out after about five minutes of maybe a 20-minute speech. And within those five minutes, it was rammed with sexist jokes.

“And my table stood up to leave, and I saw Eilidh Barbour and people on her table stand up to leave. But it’s also worth pointing out that there were loads of people laughing at these jokes.”

Bennett said she was “no longer shocked or surprised” by “offensive remarks masquerading as banter”, adding: “But I am sickened.”

Others to attend said Copeland, who the Telegraph has attempted to contact for comment, had used the word “p--f” while joking about his own father being homophobic.

They also said he used the word “N-p”, allegedly in connection with Celtic signing three Japanese players in January.

The SFWA said in a statement: “The Scottish Football Writers’ Association apologises to anyone offended or upset by material from one of our after-dinner speakers at last night’s annual awards dinner.

“We have agreed unanimously that this will act as a catalyst to review and improve the format of our future events to make it an enjoyable and inspirational event for all.”

Former Manchester United and Aberdeen manager Ferguson was among the attendees at Sunday’s ceremony in Glasgow, at which he collected the SFWA’s Lifetime Achievement award.

Kick It Out and Women In Football said in a joint statement: “Events that celebrate talent in our game should be a time to focus on the positives and all the people who have played their part in pushing football forward. It should not be used as a platform to share derogatory and discriminatory comments and make groups and communities feel excluded and insulted. We expect better and we demand better.

“The fact we have been made aware by those in attendance that they felt unwelcome within the industry they work is unacceptable, and we stand with them. We acknowledge the apology issued by the Scottish Football Writers’ Association and look forward to their promised review of future events. In the meantime, we will be reaching out to understand the full details and offer our support to those affected.”

Sunday’s ceremony was not be the first football awards dinner to be engulfed by such a storm, with England’s Professional Footballers Association awards having witnessed more than one in recent years.

At a PFA dinner in 1997, football agent Rachel Anderson was banned from attending what was then a men-only event.

After being refused entry on the night of the ceremony, she duly took the PFA to court and won.