Football Australia brands Matildas outburst by Triple M radio host Marty Sheargold as ‘unacceptable’

Marty Sheargold and Triple M have parted ways following the furore surrounding the radio veteran’s “unacceptable” outburst about women’s sport.

Marty Sheargold and Triple M have parted ways after the radio veteran’s on-air outburst degrading female athletes.

Sheargold failed to front up for his 3pm show amid growing backlash over his “disgraceful” comments and was unexpectedly absent on Wednesday afternoon, with the station playing music to fill the airwaves.

His absence comes amid widespread outrage over his Matildas outburst on Monday.

Triple M have since confirmed they have “mutually agreed to part ways” with Sheargold.

Southern Cross Austereo’s chief content officer, Dave Cameron, said: “Triple M and Marty Sheargold have mutually agreed to part ways.”

“SCA takes its responsibility to listeners, shareholders, and clients seriously and its programming should align with the standards and expectations of its audience.

“Right now, it’s clear this is a moment for reflection and review. Triple M, and the wider SCA network, will continue to take all necessary steps to support staff.

“Triple M acknowledges Marty’s contribution over the past four years, and we wish him well for the future.”

Marty Sheargold said he fully understood 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,” he said.

Triple M host Marty Sheargold is under fire after he unloaded on the Matildas. Picture: Supplied

It comes as Football Australia has branded Sheargold’s comments about the Matildas as “unacceptable”, saying they undermine the value of women and girls’ participation in sport.

Outrage grew on Wednesday after Sheargold unloaded on women’s sport and the Matildas on his Triple M show, saying he would “rather hammer a nail through the head of my (audio beeped out) than watch that”.

He then asked colleague Will Ralston, who was covering the team’s poor results, if he’s “got any men’s sport”.

“You know what, they remind me of year 10 girls,’’ Sheargold said during a live segment on Monday.

“All the infighting and all the friendship issues, ‘the coach hates me and I hate bloody training and Michelle’s being a bi**h.

“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.”

When Ralston said the team was playing in the SheBelieves Cup, Sheargold exclaimed: “She believes in what … it better be men.”

Hockeyroos Rosie Malone said the comments were hurtful. Picture: Simon Watts

The outburst — which Sheargold on Wednesday said was a bad joke — has been slammed by women athletes including Hockeyroo player Rosie Malone and swimming greats Libby Trickett and Leisel Jones.

Football Australia weighed into the controversy, saying the 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,” the statement said.

“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.

“While we acknowledge the apologies issued by both Triple M and Marty Sheargold, this incident is a stark reminder of the responsibility media outlets and personalities have in fostering respectful and constructive discussions about women’s sport and its participants.

“Every comment, every report, and every discussion shape public perception and reinforces our society’s values toward women and girls in sport.”

A clip posted by Hockeyroo Malone described Sheargold’s comments as hurtful.

“I honestly don’t know what is wrong with the world … I heard this on the radio yesterday in prime-time (5.30pm) on the way to training and all I could think about was the young girls sitting in the car with their parents, maybe on the way to or from their own training sessions hearing this,’’ Malone wrote on Instagram.

“I’m sure many of them would have been hurt and confused … I was in disbelief. This is apparently acceptable on mainstream afternoon radio?? HOW??”

Gold medal winning swimmer Trickett commented: “I’m livid. It’s 2025 and this isn’t funny.”

Netballer Gretel Bueta commented “Yuk” while Bianca Chatfield left an angry face emoji.

Jones, who works on Triple M breakfast on the Gold Coast, said she felt sick after hearing the comments was in tears discussing the challenging position of being in the same workplace.

Jones said she had been ambushed by dozens of negative comments on her Instagram account from people questioning why she hadn’t taken a stand on Tuesday’s show.

Speaking on-air Wednesday morning, an emotional Jones said Sheargold’s comments left her feeling “extremely sick” and she had now been forced to address why she was yet to talk about the controversy.

“I’m not going to cry. I’m not going to cry,” Jones, who was audibly sobbing, began.

“It’s a very tricky position to be put in when Triple M is my place of employment, and obviously I love working on the show and I find it incredibly challenging to be put in a position where I become the unofficial spokesperson for women in sport.

“I think a lot of people need to understand that it’s very hard when you’re in this position to say the things that you would really like to say.”

Leisel Jones was emotional discussing the topic on Wednesday morning.

Sheargold, a veteran radio host, said his comments had been made in jest.

“Any comedy, including mine, can miss the mark sometimes, and I can see why people may have taken offence to my comments regarding the Matildas,” he said.

“I sincerely apologise.”

SCA, which owns Triple M, said: “Marty Sheargold’s comments regarding the Matildas — made during Triple M Drive on Monday, 24 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. We are sorry for any offence caused.”

Sheargold quit his high-profile breakfast show in July last year for a more lifestyle-friendly drivetime slot.

The Rush Hour with JB & Billy has expanded from Victoria in drive to South Australia and WA – while The Marty Sheargold Show is on drive in NSW and Queensland.

He is also heard nationally across the Triple M network, from 3-4pm, Monday to Friday.

After a drunken episode at the 2023 AFL Grand Final and admitting he “made a tit of myself” Sheargold took a three-month sabbatical to deal with exhaustion and his mental health.

In March last year he was called out for making an anti-Semitic remark.

The Marty Sheargold Show now consists of Sheargold, Troy Ellis and Ralston.

Loren Barry shocked fans in November when she announced on social media that she was no longer on the program, a show she had been a part of since it began in 2021.

She is now co-host of The Hot Hits which airs around the country on the Hit Network from 7-10pm Mondays to Thursdays.