The Scottish Football Writers’ Association (SFWA) have apologised after a speaker at their annual awards ceremony made “sexist and racist” jokes.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou was crowned Scotland’s manager of the year at the dinner in Glasgow, while Hearts’ Craig Gordon collected the player of the year gong.
However, in a move that threatened to overshadow the evening, Perthshire-born TV presenter Eilidh Barbour hit out on Twitter on Sunday night, suggesting she had felt uncomfortable at the black tie gathering.
Never felt so unwelcome in the industry I work in than sitting at the Scottish Football Writers Awards. A huge reminder there is still so much to do in making our game an equal place #callitout #equalgame
— Eilidh Barbour 💙🤍 (@EilidhBarbour) May 8, 2022
“Never felt so unwelcome in the industry I work in than sitting at the Scottish Football Writers’ Awards,” she said.
“A huge reminder there is still so much to do in making our game an equal place #callitout #equalgame.”
Former Times journalist Gabriella Bennett later responded to Barbour’s tweet – and described her own discomfort with the content of one of the after dinner speeches.
I was at these awards tonight and sat through the same sexist and racist jokes made by a keynote speaker. My table walked out at the same time Eilidh’s did https://t.co/aEAV4VqLtn
— Gabriella Bennett (@palebackwriter) May 8, 2022
“I was at these awards tonight and sat through the same sexist and racist jokes by a keynote speaker,” she said.
“My table walked out at the same time Eilidh’s did.”
The speaker in question was not named by either woman but has been identified as ex-lawyer turned after dinner speaker Bill Copeland.
— Scottish Football Writers Association (@scottishfwa) May 9, 2022
In response, the SFWA released a statement apologising for any offense caused and vowing to review the format of future events.
They said: “The Scottish Football Writers’ Association apologises to anyone offended or upset by material from one of our after-dinner speakers at last night’s annual awards dinner.
“We have agreed unanimously that this will act as a catalyst to review and improve the format of our future events to make it an enjoyable and inspirational event for all.”
