Four Southern Cross Austereo radio stations breached decency rules when they broadcast host Marty Sheargold’s sexist comments about the Matildas earlier this year, the media watchdog has found.
In a report released on Thursday, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) said it found Sheargold’s comments comparing the Matildas to Year 10 girls to be sexist and demeaning.
In his on-air rant, Sheargold said he would “rather hammer a nail through the head of my penis” than watch the Matildas play at an upcoming tournament.
“You know what they remind me of? Year 10 girls,” Sheargold said. “All the infighting and all the friendship issues, ‘the coach hates me and I hate bloody training and Michelle’s being a bitch’.”
Sheargold and Triple M “mutually agreed to part ways” in February after the incident and The Marty Sheargold Show was cancelled.
“These sexist comments, expressed in a demeaning and sarcastic tone, demonstrated a level of contempt and disdain for women’s sport and more generally women,” ACMA said in its report.
“Combined with the high levels of community respect for the Matildas and their role in promoting women’s soccer and sport, the discussion overall was unacceptable and breached generally acceptable standard of decency.”
The four radio stations who breached decency standards are Triple M Sydney and Brisbane, Gold Coast FM, and Maryborough Broadcasting Company.
“The pejorative comments used by the host throughout the relevant broadcast conveyed to the audience that women’s sport is inferior to men’s, highlighted in the crude and graphic manner in which he said ‘I’d rather hammer a nail through the head of my penis than watch that’ (i.e. the AFC Women’s Asian Cup),” ACMA said.
“While the decency provisions do not preclude discussion or expression of opinion on women’s sport, the demeaning and offensive language used by the host goes beyond what can be considered generally acceptable standards of decency.”
On Thursday, AMCA authority member Carolyn Lidgerwood said the demeaning and insulting language used by Sheargold went beyond generally acceptable standards of decency.
“Sexist comments like this don’t belong in Australian broadcasting. Even if the comments were an extremely ill-judged attempt at humour, a reasonable listener would have found them offensive and to have crossed the line,” Ms Lidgerwood said.
The ACMA is currently considering taking further action against the radio stations for breaching the code.
In February, Football Australia said Sheargold’s 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”.
“The CommBank Matildas have inspired a new generation of Australians from young boys and girls to men and women who now see a future for themselves in football and sport more broadly. They have broken barriers, set new standards, and elevated the game to unprecedented heights. Their success has been instrumental in transforming women’s sport in Australia, and they deserve to be covered with the respect and professionalism they have earned,” Football Australia said.