Richard Keys Denies Retirement Rumours Following beIN Sports Departure
Disgraced former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys has broken his silence following reports of his departure from beIN Sports this summer, strongly denying any notion of retirement. In a candid statement on his personal blog, Keys, 68, insisted that his exit from the Qatari network is not an end to his broadcasting career but rather a “change of course,” with “a whole lot more to come.”
Reports last week suggested that Keys’ contract with beIN Sports would not be renewed upon its expiry at the end of the current season. Further speculation indicated that his long-time broadcasting partner and close friend, Andy Gray, 70, would also be leaving the network, with both presenters rumoured to be returning to the UK and potentially considering retirement.
However, a spokesperson for Keys had previously informed the Daily Mail that both individuals had mutually agreed to conclude their roles at beIN Sports, with their final broadcasts scheduled for May. Keys himself has now personally addressed these rumours, aiming to set the record straight.
A Fond Farewell to Qatar, But Not to Broadcasting
In his blog post, Keys expressed no ill will towards his former employer, stating, “There has been no fall out between myself and beINSPORTS.” He went on to articulate his deep appreciation for his time in Qatar, a country he holds in high regard.
“I’ve loved every minute of my time in Qatar – a country that means the world to me,” Keys wrote. “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.”
Keys and Gray have been based in Doha since 2013, a decade after their high-profile exit from Sky Sports in the wake of a sexism scandal.
The Lingering Shadow of the Sexism Scandal
The duo’s departure from Sky Sports in 2011 followed the emergence of leaked audio recordings of them making sexist remarks about female assistant referee Sian Massey, captured when they believed their microphones were switched off. This incident led to Andy Gray’s dismissal from Sky Sports, while Richard Keys subsequently resigned from his lucrative £500,000-a-year position.
The controversy continued to cast a long shadow. In 2022, Keys reportedly threatened legal action against former colleague Gabby Logan following accusations in her memoir, The First Half. Logan’s book alleged that Keys and Gray had made sexist comments about her pregnancy during a flight to the 2005 Champions League final.
Reacting to Logan’s characterisation of the pair as “dinosaurs waiting to become extinct,” Keys stated, “I did more for her, in the early part of her career, than anybody. Andy and I were easy targets. It’s easy to have a go at us. I don’t intend to see her in court, but I think there are things that can be settled away from that.”
Andy Gray echoed a sentiment of moving forward, expressing his disappointment but focusing on the present and future. “I was really disappointed,” he commented. “My life’s about today and tomorrow, not 10 years ago. Or in that alleged case, 17 years ago. I want to move on with my life.”
A Successful Stint in the Middle East
Since their move to beIN Sports, Keys and Gray have been instrumental in fronting the network’s coverage of major football competitions, including the Premier League and the Champions League, across a vast region spanning 24 countries in the Middle East and North Africa. They also played a prominent role in beIN Sports’ extensive coverage of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Personal Life and New Beginnings
According to reports from The Telegraph, Richard Keys, now 68, is expected to relocate permanently to the UK to live with his 37-year-old wife, Lucie Rose. The couple entered into a long-distance relationship following their private wedding ceremony in Devon in June 2023, a ceremony reportedly costing £20,000.
Notably, Keys’ children, son Joshua and daughter Jemma, did not attend the wedding. Jemma, who was previously a close friend of Lucie Rose, has had a tumultuous relationship with her father’s new wife.
Keys’ separation from his wife of 36 years, Julia Keys, in 2016, came as a shock following the emergence of his relationship with Lucie Rose. Julia Keys publicly expressed the devastation caused by the affair, particularly as she was recovering from thyroid cancer. She also detailed the profound impact it had on their two children. Julia claimed the affair contributed to her daughter Jemma’s struggles with alcoholism and depression, and that Jemma faced legal action for abusive text messages sent to Lucie Rose, though charges were ultimately dropped.
Despite the personal upheavals and past controversies, Richard Keys appears determined to forge ahead with his broadcasting career, signalling that his time in the Middle East may be concluding, but his on-air presence is far from over.
