Triple M savaged by communications watchdog over Marty Sheargold’s ‘ill-judged, sexist’ Matildas comments

Radio station Triple M has been savaged by Australia’s radio industry watchdog over derogatory comments made by disgraced presented Marty Sheargold about the Matildas football team. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) on Thursday found four Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) stations – including Triple M Sydney – breached decency rules due to Sheargold’s comments about the popular women’s football club. In February, Sheargold claimed on his show the Matildas were behaving like “Year 10 girls” and he would “rather hammer a nail through the head of (his) penis” than watch women’s sport. At the time, the Matildas were competing in the Women’s Asian Cup. ACMA found the “sexist” comments “expressed in a demeaning and sarcastic tone, demonstrated a level of contempt and disdain” for women. “The offensive themes were then exacerbated by the host referring to his genitalia in a further degrading comment about women’s sport,” ACMA said in their ruling. The watchdog is considering enforcement action against SCA against the breaches. Authority member Carolyn Lidgerwood said Sheargold’s comments went beyond generally acceptable standards of decency. “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. “Sexist comments like this don’t belong in Australian broadcasting.” Triple M and Sheargold parted ways amid the fallout. He later issued an apology for his remarks, saying: “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.”