Former Southampton star Matt Le Tissier recently opened up about the real reasons behind his exit from Sky Sports in 2020.
In an interview, he revealed that his views and opinions, which clashed with the mainstream narrative, led to his dismissal from the broadcaster.
The Turning Point: A Refusal to Conform
Le Tissier, who had been with Sky Sports for 15 years, was let go alongside fellow Soccer Saturday pundits Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson in August 2020.
He openly admitted that his refusal to wear a Black Lives Matter badge was one of the turning points that led to his unpopularity with the company.
He recalled a significant moment when he refused to follow the corporate stance, which created tension with both the broadcaster and his colleagues.
“I probably made myself unpopular with the bosses when, after the first program, I refused to wear the Black Lives Matter badge anymore,” Le Tissier shared on the Disrupters podcast.
His dissent over the growing influence of political movements within sports was not the only issue.
Covid Opinions and Social Media Backlash
Le Tissier’s opinions on the Covid pandemic became another sticking point.
He believed that some Premier League clubs were more focused on financial gain than player welfare during the crisis.
As teams in the relegation zone voiced concerns about the Covid outbreak, Le Tissier felt that the broader football world was prioritizing money over safety.
But it wasn’t just football that sparked controversy. Le Tissier also came under fire for sharing views on social media that opposed the mainstream narrative about vaccines and global events.
He even faced backlash for questioning the legitimacy of the 9/11 attacks, which prompted his former colleague, Jeff Stelling, to publicly condemn the post as “total and absolute b*******.”
Strained Relationships and Public Opinion
In hindsight, Le Tissier admitted that his close friends and family initially thought he had lost his mind, especially as he became increasingly vocal about his beliefs.
He shared that while many had doubts about his views at the time, the passage of time had vindicated some of his stances.
“At the time, my family and friends thought I’d gone a bit mad, but I stuck to my guns,” Le Tissier explained.
“And over the last couple of years, they’ve come to realize I wasn’t mad, and actually, I was talking a lot of sense.”
Reflecting on His Time at Sky Sports
Despite the turmoil, Le Tissier expressed no bitterness toward Sky Sports.
He acknowledged the valuable years he spent with the company and fondly remembered his time as a pundit.
“I had 15 great years working there.
It was a fantastic part of my life,” he said. However, he noted that the company had changed in recent years, and not for the better.
“Things change, and you move on,” he concluded, adding that while he wasn’t angry, he still felt disillusioned with the company’s current direction.
The Fallout and Moving On
Le Tissier’s departure from Sky Sports wasn’t entirely unexpected.
A statement from Sky confirmed that the broadcaster was shifting its focus on football coverage and thanked the pundits for their years of service.
Despite this, Le Tissier still maintains that his social media posts were a significant factor in his exit.
“I lost my job. Sky may say it was for a different direction, but they didn’t deny that my posts on social media had something to do with it,” he admitted.
Ultimately, Matt Le Tissier’s exit from Sky Sports marked the end of an era, with the former footballer continuing to stand by his opinions, regardless of the consequences.
His experience is a reminder of how personal views can clash with professional expectations, especially in the world of media.
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