Featured Image Credit: talkSPORT
Topics: Football, Manchester United, Jeff Stelling
Nasir Jabbar
Jeff Stelling has fired back at a journalist who supported Shebahn Aherne's perspective on women's football after clashing with Alan Brazil.
Aherne and Brazil butted heads during an explosive segment on talkSPORT.
The 65-year-old was labelled a 'dinosaur' by co-host Aherne when he suggested Manchester United fans around the world are 'not bothered' about the women's team.
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Aherne had described how Man United unveiled their 'Mission 21' plan, which is about delivering the club's 21st English league title.
A 'Mission 1' plan has also been laid out, which focuses on Man United's women's team winning their first Woman's Super League title.
Brazil exclaimed: "With the greatest respect, when you talk about Manchester United... women’s football is getting more important now but when you talk about Manchester United, this is the men’s we’re talking about, the Premier League when we’re talking about mission impossible, not the women’s.
"It isn’t (a priority)," he claimed. "I’m sorry, people around them are not bothered. It is true. They’re not [bothered]. Within the bigger picture, they’re not.
"No, the bigger picture is fans want to see Manchester United in the Premier League challenging. That’s the bigger picture. It’s not that important compared to the bigger picture. I’m not going to sit here and lie because it’s not."
Aherne fired back: "Al, stop being like that. You sound like a proper dinosaur this morning. I don’t know why you’re being like that.
"That’s unbelievable from you," she added. "You’re the one with the granddaughter playing football, listen to yourself. Right now that’s important."
Women's football writer Tom Garry took to social media to support Aherne's view and labelled Brazil a 'dinosaur'.
On X, he wrote: "Respect to Shebahn for standing up to a dinosaur live on the radio. "
Garry's taunt at Brazil angered Stelling, who hit back: "As a journalist you should be able to find a less disrespectful description of Alan. Do you call your bosses dinosaurs too as they are doubtless older than you?"
The journalist replied: "I thought he was patronising, arrogant and quite rude to a female colleague, live on air, Jeff. Do you prefer that description? Age is not the reason the word dinosaur felt relevant. Condescending comments towards women working in football - that's what should be extinct by now."