Controversial football presenter Richard Keys has made his first public statement since his upcoming exit from beIN SPORTS was confirmed. Keys, alongside Andy Gray, has worked for the Qatar-based broadcaster since 2013.
However, the English duo are set to return to the UK at the end of the current Premier League season as their contracts come to an end. They both left England embroiled in controversy after Gray was sacked by Sky Sports in 2011 for sexist comments, while Keys resigned shortly after.
Before that, they were the leading presenter and pundit on the channel’s coverage of the English top-flight ever since its rebrand in 1992. It is expected they will depart before the 2026 World Cup, with beIN said to be looking to freshen things up.
Richard Keys Releases First Statement Addressing ‘Fall Out’
While The Athletic initially reported that the duo were departing on amicable terms with the broadcaster, that hasn’t stopped speculation about a potential fall out. Writing in his weekly blog, Keys has put that theory to bed, as he wrote:
“There has been no fall out between myself and beINSPORTS. I’ve loved every minute of my time in Qatar – a country that means the world to me. I have a deep affection for it, but it’s time for me to move on. I’m not retiring – simply changing course. There’s a whole lot more to come yet.”
Despite the hints at ‘more to come’, it’s hard to imagine either man will be welcomed back into the British television scene after the scandal of 2011. However, the 68-year-old is adamant he will not be retiring completely.
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Keys and Gray were handed an opportunity in the Middle East and given a new lease of life 13 years ago after being left out in the cold by Sky Sports due to their own actions. The high point of their time in Qatar was perhaps their coverage of the 2022 World Cup.
Keys ‘to Move Back to the UK’ After beIN Exit
Keys has been involved in a long-distance relationship with 37-year-old wife, Lucie Rose. The pair secretly married in 2023, and the plan is now for the presenter to move in with Rose permanently as he returns to the UK, according to The Telegraph.
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Meanwhile, his partner in crime is also due back in Britain when his contract in Qatar runs out. It’s unconfirmed whether Gray is also keen to continue working in the industry, or if he will settle into retirement after many decades as a football pundit and commentator.
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