• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Mark Lawrenson says he was sacked by the BBC because he's a 'white male'

Home> Football

Updated 12:54 25 Sep 2022 GMT+1Published 12:52 25 Sep 2022 GMT+1

Mark Lawrenson says he was sacked by the BBC because he's a 'white male'

"I’m 65 and a white male. So, you know..."

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar

Mark Lawrenson has claimed he was sacked by the BBC because he's a 'white male'.

The former Liverpool defender spent 30 years as a pundit for the corporation.

Image: Alamy
Image: Alamy

He was an ever present on Football Focus, having enjoyed 25 years on the programme.

Advert

But he was relieved of his duties in March of this year as they told him of the format changes to Football Focus.

He bemoaned the manner of his departure as he revealed that he was asked to attend a meeting in Manchester over a phone call.

However, he sensed that he was being axed by the broadcasters and asked for the news to be given there and then.

He told The Sunday Times: "I am like, 'Just tell me now what you are going to tell me.'

Advert

"I didn’t want to drive 50 miles to Manchester for somebody to tell me over a cup of coffee I am not working next year."

Image: BBC
Image: BBC

Lawrenson added: "The Beeb are probably the worst at giving you bad news. It was just, 'We are going on the road next season with Focus. We don’t think it is really something for you.'

"I just wish they had said to me at the start of my contract last year, 'You’ve had a great run, thanks very much and you are not working next season.'"

Advert

Asked why he was let go by the BBC, he replied: "Well, I’m 65 and a white male. So, you know...

"In all my time at the BBC, nobody ever said you can’t say this or that, but the woke thing drives me bonkers.

"Whereas normally you would say the first thing that comes into your head, you’re now thinking, 'If I say that will I get into trouble?'

"It was a bit like playing with your legs tied together. The BBC is the national broadcaster and I get that, but they are frightened to death of upsetting anybody."

Featured Image Credit: Alamy/BBC

Topics: Football

Nasir Jabbar
Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Darren Till. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

X

@NasJabbar

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
5 hours ago
6 hours ago
7 hours ago
  • 4 hours ago

    Erik ten Hag suffers humiliating defeat in first Bayer Leverkusen game and everyone is saying the same thing

    Erik ten Hag got off to the worst possible start at Bayer Leverkusen when they faced Flamengo's Under 20 side in Rio de Janeiro.

    Football
  • 5 hours ago

    Arsenal accidentally leak new signing that nobody knew about after announcing Noni Madueke

    Arsenal announced the signing of Noni Madueke but accidentally leaked another addition to Mikel Arteta's squad.

    Football
  • 6 hours ago

    Alexander Isak gives 'green light' for staggering transfer as agent 'begins talks' with shock club

    Alexander Isak's agent is in talks over a shock move away from Newcastle United.

    Football
  • 7 hours ago

    Manchester City plotting shock move for England star as Fabrizio Romano drops bombshell on transfer

    Word on Manchester City's potential sixth signing of the summer has emerged courtesy of Fabrizio Romano.

    Football
  • Ferrari 'issue response' to Christian Horner claims a day after he's sacked by Red Bull
  • Telling detail spotted on Jermaine Jenas' Instagram after he's sacked by BBC over 'inappropriate behaviour'
  • Jermaine Jenas' wife Ellie Penfold breaks silence with first post since shamed pundit was sacked by BBC
  • Jermaine Jenas is going viral for bizarre 'securing coin' video after he's sacked by the BBC