A former Manchester City player has caused a major stir by insisting women should not be commentating or talking with authority about men's football.
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Former Premier League midfielder Joey Barton has grabbed the headlines this week after going on a tirade on social media about women being involved in what has traditionally been an area dominated by men.
Following his online activity, the 41-year-old was invited on broadcaster Piers Morgan's show TalkTV, in which he doubled down on his controversial stance.
When asked about former England and Arsenal women's footballer Alex Scott, who has appeared regularly on BBC's Match of the Day and Sky Sports football broadcasts commenting on the men's game, Barton suggested she is not in her position due to her experience.
"She hasn't played in it," he said.
"One is 200 years old and one is about 40 years old… it's the same rules but football is about a lot more than rules… The games are at two different speeds.
"I don't care where you're from or how many games you've played, but you have to have a body of work that is credible to get you there… the world has gone crazy.
"I don't want to see sexism in football, but if we don't debate (the role of women in football broadcasting) properly, this is just going to rise and rise, and ruin the experience of watching elite-level men's football.
"Everywhere you turn now, there's an unqualified opinion pontificating about the sport I love, and it's ruining my experience – to fuel this woke agenda, and it's going to increase sexism massively, because it has to be a true meritocracy. We have to have people who are qualified to do those roles."
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Barton made 153 appearances for City, and also represented clubs such as Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, Burnley, Olympique Marseille and Rangers.
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