Football in meltdown as stars respond to caveman comment

A storm has erupted over extraordinary comments that have caused outrage across the footballing world with the drama taking a twist.

Laura Woods and Bianca Westwood. Photo: Instagram, @biancawestwood, @laurawoodsy.

Joey Barton has goaded Laura Woods and Bianca Westwood to fight him on his sexist views on women in football.

The notorious football loudmouth on Friday launched a tirade against female commentators and football analysts working in the men’s game.

He doubled down on his comments in an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, where Sky Sports reporter Bianca Westwood challenged his views, The Sun reports.

Barton, 41, took to X once again to call out Westwood and Woods for a debate on his new Common Sense podcast, after the pair both shared their views on his remarks.

The former midfielder wrote: “Both of you follow me. And not the other way around. So, Why the silence?

“Do you both have something to hide?

“You can come and debate. Just make sure you’re ready.

“I’ll take your silence as a sign you know it’s not for you. Screaming from the rooftops yesterday. Tumbleweeds blowing across the vast expanse today. Says it all…”

Neither Woods nor Westwood responded to Barton’s taunt so he increased his efforts by questioning why they chose to remain silent.

He added: “Laura Woods and Bianca Westwood won’t come on the show. They’re not brave enough. Lots to say yesterday?

“You should have kept your heads down. Something to hide girls?

“Cat got your tongue today!”

Laura Woods and Bianca Westwood. Photo: Instagram, @biancawestwood, @laurawoodsy.

Woods and Westwood both stated they did not want to be drawn into the controversy but spoke out in defence of a female vlogger Barton had picked on.

The drama took another twist on Saturday with Chelsea manager Emma Hayes delivering a powerful four-minute speech to drop a truth bomb on Barton.

“I feel that sport is the last place in society where that male privilege exists,” she said.

“I don’t expect any individual to understand their privilege. Nonetheless you only have to see scores of women across the internet or in the business - whether that’s coaches, presenters, players - we’re routinely used to dealing with systemic misogyny, bullying and behaviour that has been pretty normal for a large part of the football public.”

She added: “If you haven’t experienced systemic misogyny, like lots of us have, you can’t for one moment understand how detrimental some of these conversations are knowing that anything anyone says just enables an absolute pile on, particularly on social media.

“When it comes to the sport of football in this case, we have to remember that society isn’t always as well represented across the media or across the game in coaching or playing.”

Barton also responded to several men taking issue with his comments by calling them “eunuchs”.

Yesterday Woods tweeted: “Usually avoid these conversations as I don’t like adding more oxygen. But throwing young vloggers to the wolves is wrong.

“I started my career vlogging and I’ve always got on with Joey. He also sent me a lovely good luck message for TNT in June. Does that make him a eunuch too?

“Joey’s entitled to his opinion. If he feels that strongly about women in the men’s game he could ask for a private conversation with the broadcasters & state his case.

“These tweets only encourage a pile on for the women getting on with their jobs. Or was that the intention?”

Pundit and TV presenter Alex Scott was also drawn into the saga after Barton claimed she “shouldn’t commentate on the men’s game”, claiming she was not qualified to do so.

Former Arsenal star-turned football presenter Scott responded to Barton on Saturday by saying she “doesn’t want to give Joey Barton oxygen”.

The former Lionesses star spoke out on Twitter while sharing an article which sees her speak about her charity work.

She wrote: “Only thing I want to give oxygen to today on this platform & raise my voice to right now is this article below and how I’m so honoured to have spent the day yesterday with Refuge Charity who continue to do such incredible vital work for women & children.”

Joey Barton of Queens Park Rangers. Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images.

Laura Woods has more than 750,000 followers on Instagram.

The former England and Arsenal Women’s star laughed off Barton’s comment before an interview with a BBC colleague, with many others slamming his views.

And on Friday evening she spoke out on Twitter while sharing an article which sees her speak about her charity work.

She wrote: “Only thing I want to give oxygen to today on this platform & raise my voice to right now is this article below and how I’m so honoured to have spent the day yesterday with Refuge Charity who continue to do such incredible vital work for women & children.”

Barton later extended his podcast invitation to any “top male players and ex-players” who disagree with his views, while self-annointing himself the “King” of X.

The ex-QPR star then focused his attention on all women working in the men’s game - not just football experts and broadcasters.

He wrote on X: “The amount of times in my professional life, I’ve seen women compromise themselves in the men’s game is ridiculous. I’ve actually lost cost.

“Female staff sending naked pictures to players. To having full blown affairs and costing people marriages.

“You would have had to experience it to believe it. It happens all the time.

“I think it is very dangerous to have women in certain roles in certain departments in men’s football because ultimately, as my good friend PK would say, ‘They’re not made of wood lad!’ It’s a recipe for disaster.”

Barton is one of football’s most controversial characters, and served time in prison in 2008 for assault.

— This story originally appeared on thesun.co.uk and has been republished with permission

Originally published as Football in meltdown as stars respond to caveman comment