Sky Sports have issued a statement on behalf of Graeme Souness in the wake of his controversial comments that football is a "man's game".
His claim, which came in the immediate aftermath of Chelsea's fiery 2-2 draw with Tottenham and in relation to the physical nature of the game plus referee Anthony Taylor's approach, drew criticism from the likes of Lionesses Euro 2022 winner Beth England who dubbed Souness' comment a "disgrace".
"It's a man's game all of a sudden again," Souness said on Sunday. "I think we've got our football back, as I would enjoy football - men at it, blow for blow, and the referee letting them get on with it."
Lionesses and Chelsea legend Karen Carney, also on Sky Sports punditry duty, was sat beside the former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder at the time and looked visibly surprised by what he had to say.
Following those remarks in the wake of Nottingham Forest v West Ham and Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, Souness said in a statement issued by Sky: "To clarify my comments from yesterday [Sunday], I was referring to the two Premier League matches I watched live on Sunday afternoon, rather than the sport of football. Football is a game for everyone to enjoy."
Presenter Dave Jones had added: "It's also a woman's game as well."
Souness, 69, actually appeared on talkSPORT on Monday but said he did not regret his comments, saying: "The refs were blowing the whistle all the time, the game didn't flow and it just wasn't a very good watch. Our game has always been unique, always been more meaty, more in our face, more intense and we've got away from that. Yesterday in my comments I said we've got our game back. That's the kind of football I remember playing. Our league will be better for it - we are back." Read more of what he had to say in the radio interview here.
Former England international Eni Aluko responded to Souness' remarks on social media, writing: "Awkward turtles, Graeme Souness talking about 'it's a man's game again' sat next to an England centurion Karen Carney, two weeks after the Lionesses end a 56-year wait and win European Championships. Come on. It's not OK."
Beth England, who was in Sarina Wiegman's Euros-winning squad, said: "What a disgraceful thing to say after the summer this country has just seen."
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