Just when Australia saw how great women’s sports is, a prime-time radio show had to bring them down a step and honestly, it isn’t surprising.
The Marty Sheargold Show aired on Triple M this Monday, with a plethora of remarks made on the recent performance of the Matildas at the SheBelieves Cup, that reflect the real opinion some men have on women’s sport in Australia.
The show’s host and namesake said he’d rather “hammer a nail through the head of his penis” than watch the National Women’s soccer team perform at next year's AFC Women’s Asia Cup, then followed up with “got any men’s sport?”.
Just when you think it’s over, Sheargold kept going at the women’s team.
“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, so you can stick it up your arse.” Sheargold said on Monday’s show.
His comments were not taken well in public opinion with the clip initially being posted by former Hockeyroo, Rosie Malone, captioned “It’s 2025 and something like this is being aired on prime time radio…disgusting”.
In a statement issued by Football Australia, they “condemned the comments made by Sheargold expressing that it was deeply disappointing”.
“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.”
Triple M issued an apology to the Matildas on Wednesday morning. They said they are “sorry for any offence or distress caused”.
“Marty Sheargold’s comments regarding the Matildas made on Triple M Drive on Monday 24th February, do not align with Triple M's views and values, and Triple M remains steadfast in its strong support of all women's and men's sports.”
Sheargold also released an apology for his comments.
“Any comedy including mine can miss the mark sometimes, and I can see why people may have taken offence at my comments regarding the Matildas. I sincerely apologise.”
Sheargold and Triple M mutually parted ways on Wednesday. The “Marty Sheargold Show” being a part of the station for the past four years.
“Having mutually agreed to part ways with the Triple M Network, I fully understand the gravity of my comments. I’d like to sincerely apologise to the Matildas and the broader organisation. I would also like to thank my immediate team for their hard work and apologise for the situation they now find themselves in,” said Sheargold in a joint statement with Triple M.
However, this issue does not fall entirely on Sheargold. It is also on all of the producers and anyone in that broadcasting studio that enabled the comments to have even been made in the first place.
For it to be entirely for the sake of “humour” is just a cop out.
An incident like this to happen to the Matildas, of all teams, is disappointing.
Are we really a true sporting nation if the team responsible for the longest run in any World Cup for Australia is a target of casual sexism and misogynistic radio remarks?
Sure, the Matildas aren’t performing their best. But rather than treat them like any other men’s sporting team who happen to not be performing well, their performance is simmered down to being bad at sport because they are women.
This attitude towards women’s sports is not surprising and brings attention to a larger issue. Sexist incidents like this happen frequently at a local level with women’s teams, making this issue not just about sport, but about sexism itself.
As a woman that has grown up playing a male-dominated sport and has entered sports media, this incident is predictable.
The blatant lack of respect female athletes receive is regrettable. It starts with not having the proper equipment, uniforms or facilities to play sports comfortably. I know I have experienced this multiple times, and I have only ever played at a local level.
Whether that is having to change is changing rooms that only have urinals, or practicing in local parks because there are no grounds for you, all in the effort to experience the same love for sport.
I have no doubt that other female athletes have felt the same amount of respect, or lack thereof.
At least we have the swift action of condemning these remarks, to give us hope. It’s enlightening that not only can Football Australia stand up and call out the blatant sexism but many Australians can gather around and show support for their national team.
This can be a learning experience, to better appreciate the women that have provided sports fans with entertainment and treat them with the respect all female athletes deserve.
With the action Triple M has taken, perhaps this can set a precedent for any other network to appropriately call out misogyny and change their attitude towards women’s sport. From deciding that an athlete's performance can purely be based on their gender to a fresh outlook of treating them like any other.
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