Jeff Stelling has called out an industry colleague for branding Alan Brazil a ‘dinosaur’ after the talkSPORT host downplayed the importance of football in a heated live debeate.
Brazil, 65, was first labelled a ‘dinosaur’ on his Thursday morning show by co-host Shebahn Aherne when he suggested most Manchester United fans globally are ‘not bothered’ about the women’s team.
Tom Garry, a women’s football writer for the Guardian, stood up for Aherne’s view in a post on X, writing: ‘Respect to Shebahn for standing up to a dinosaur live on the radio.
‘Anyone ignorant enough to still think “no one cares” about Manchester United women ought to see their fans waiting at 6am in the Old Trafford car park to embark on 10-hour round coach trips for away games. True football fans.’
But Stelling has hit back at Garry, replying: ‘As a journalist you should be able to find a less disrespectful description of Alan. Do you call your bosses dinosaurs too as they are doubtless older than you?’
Garry lashed back: ‘I thought he was patronising, arrogant and quite rude to a female colleague, live on air, Jeff. Do you prefer that description? Age is not the reason the word dinosaur felt relevant. Condescending comments towards women working in football – that’s what should be extinct by now.’
Jeff Stelling has waded into the row around Alan Brazil’s ‘dinosaur’ views on women’s football
Brazil was labelled a ‘dinosaur’ after claiming that most Manchester United fans globally are ‘not bothered’ about the women’s team
He was called out by his talkSPORT co-host Shebahn Aherne (pictured) after going on an extraordinary rant live on air
Brazil (bottom left) and Aherne (top right) have worked together at talkSPORT for several years
The clash between Brazil and Aherne, which also involved Gabby Agbonlahor, has sparked intense debate across social media.
Aherne suggested that getting United’s women’s team some silverware should be a primary target, but the Scot was having none of it.
He fired back: ‘With the greatest respect, when you talk about Manchester United. Women’s football is getting more important now but when you talk about Manchester United, this is the men’s we’re talking about, the Premier League when we’re talking about mission impossible, not the women’s.’
Aherne insisted fans do care about the women’s fortunes, but Brazil doubled down.
‘It isn’t (a priority)’, he claimed. ‘I’m sorry, people around them are not bothered. It is true. They’re not [bothered]. Within the bigger picture, they’re not.
‘No, the bigger picture is fans want to see Manchester United in the Premier League challenging. That’s the bigger picture. It’s not that important compared to the bigger picture. I’m not going to sit here and lie because it’s not.’
Aherne was furious with Brazil’s outburst and hit back at the presenter while a stunned Gabby Agbonlahor watched on.
‘Al, stop being like that,’ she said. ‘You sound like a proper dinosaur this morning. I don’t know why you’re being like that.’
Brazil refused to back down, as he retorted: ‘You’re kidding yourself on.’
A visibly frustrated Aherne added: ‘That’s unbelievable from you. You’re the one with the granddaughter playing football, listen to yourself. Right now that’s important.’
