Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has slammed the comments of Andy Gray about woman recently. Richard Keys and Andy Gray were dropped from presenting Bolton Wanderers' match against Chelsea as their employer was forced to condemn their comments about the female assistant referee Sian Massey, who was branded "fucking hopeless", and the West Ham United vice-chair, Karren Brady.

The Sky Sports managing director, Barney Francis, said he had spoken to both men personally to tell them their comments were "totally unacceptable" and "inexcusable from anyone at Sky regardless of their role or seniority". The pair will be absent from screens until at least next week and have been warned that any repeat is likely to be a sackable offence.

The insults levelled at Massey came just days after a meeting of senior European football figures, convened by Uefa and the Football Association, concluded that football is "institutionally sexist" – run, across the continent, by a self-perpetuating "old boys' club".