TWO football commentators who made off-air sexist comments about a female official should apologise, three sportswomen say.

Sky Sports football presenters Andy Gray and Richard Keys caused controversy after agreeing female officials “don’t know the offside rule.”

They went on to say referee’s assistant Sian Massey would drop a clanger during the Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool game on Saturday.

But their comments, which were made when they believed their microphones were switched off, have sparked outrage.

Former Huddersfield Town player JoAtkinson and rugby league referee and touch judge Beth Neilson called for them to apologise.

And Emily Heckler, who plays for Huddersfield Town ladies and has played for England U19 ladies, said it could even spur many women on in the world of sport.

Emily said: “I was brought up in the men’s game and think female officials need to be sterner and more authoritative, but she was bang on with her decisions and she should be given respect for that.

“They should give a written apology and apologise next time they’re on air and let’s learn from it.

“Us women are little fish in the big football pond, but we’ll keep pushing forward, this will spur us on.”

Jo added: “I think it is wrong, especially when the call she made was right – it was them who called it wrong.

“I think there should be more female referees and linesmen in sport. There already are in the women’s game, but I see no reason why there shouldn’t be more in the men’s game. They all have to prove they can do the job.”

Jo, who is a coach for the Huddersfield University Ladies Team and for a youth boys’ team, started playing for Huddersfield Town when she was 15. She is also coach and captain for Hepworth United.

She added: “Everyone has told me to go into refereeing and I might do once I’ve finished playing, but I enjoy playing too much at the moment. Comments like this wouldn’t put me off.”

One woman who has already made her mark in the officiating world is 18-year-old Beth Neilson. Last year she ran the touchline at the Holliday Cup rugby league final between Slaithwaite and Emley at Lockwood Park.

When asked if it was a good move that Sky Sports last night stood the two presenters down over their comments, Beth said: “Yes it is a good decision, but I also think they should be made to apologise too.” She added: “I think it is disgusting what they said. I’m a rugby league referee and I think women should be treated with the same respect as a man.”

Beth who passed her refereeing certificates in 2005 added: “At first it was hard, I knew I’d get a lot of comments. I didn’t fear it and it didn’t stop me, I just carried on and proved anyone who doubted me wrong.”

The comments of the Sky sports duo provoked outrage with West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady, who said they made her “blood boil”.

What Richard Keys, and pundit Andy Gray, said:

The pair concurred that female officials “don’t know the offside rule” with Keys adding: “I can guarantee you there’ll be a big one today. (Liverpool manager) Kenny (Dalglish) will go potty.”

Keys then remarked on comments made by West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady in a national newspaper about the level of sexism in football by saying: “See charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Yeah. Do me a favour, love.”