Football star Stephanie Roche has defended RTE’s punditry after Joe Brolly described The Sunday Game as “passionless” and “dull”.
Eamon Dunphy had previously accused RTE of “ageism” for letting people like Liam Brady, Ted Walsh and Pat Spillane go, and hiring pundits who were too afraid to express their true opinion on telly.
But Stephanie said the landscape has changed and there were different ways to give your opinion without slating someone.
READ MORE: Eamon Dunphy blasts RTE Sport saying anyone with a personality is 'out' after Ted Walsh retirement
The Dubliner – who joins RTE as a pundit for the women’s World Cup – said: “First of all, I grew up watching Dunphy, Giles and Liam Brady. They were people I looked up to. I thought they were brilliant. They were the face of Irish sport for a long, long time. I really enjoyed them.
“I think the world is changing now. I think a lot of the time you have to be so careful what you say because you don’t want to offend anybody. I think that is what he means.”
Dunphy previously told us that he thought RTE Sport “appear to want to destroy” the nature of punditry, while Joe Brolly described The Sunday Game punditry as “passionless” and “dull”
Dunphy told us: “Their coverage of sport had been very good traditionally. They appear to want to destroy it.
“It applies to soccer, racing now with Ted, the GAA with Pat Spillane and (Joe) Brolly. Anyone with a personality is out - or a brain.”
Speaking at the launch of Jenny McCarthy’s debut book, The Wedding, at the Westbury Hotel in Dublin, Stephanie said: “I think there is a way of getting your point across and saying it in a way that… you know there us a way of doing it. But you also have to make sure you give your opinion and not just say what everybody else is saying.
“Obviously you’d never slate anybody. Well, I wouldn't, that's just not my personality anyway. I’ve obviously played the game, so I know what’s expected of players but there are ways of saying it.
“In today’s world, you have to be careful what you say.”
The Ireland International said she’s “excited” for the world cup, admitting she hopes the team does well - but she said she will call out mistakes made on the pitch.
“It’s exciting. It’s a different position to be in but at the same time I have to give my honest opinion.
“I think a lot of the time I try to put myself in the position of the girls as well because I know if someone makes a mistake, they are not doing it on purpose, but I still have to call it out.
“I’m always hoping the girls do well so please god the girls do well,” she added.
