Sky falls in on Marsh

Television football pundit Rodney Marsh has been sacked by Sky over comments about the Asian tsunami.

15:23 26 January 2005

Television football pundit Rodney Marsh has been sacked by Sky after making a joke about the tsunami disaster that struck Asia.

The former Queens Park Rangers and Manchester City striker made the comments while appearing on the television network's live phone-in show, You're on Sky Sports.

An apology was issued during the show, but a Sky Sports spokesman said the broadcaster had decided to act over what was termed an "offensive and inexcusable" joke.

"These remarks should never have been made and Sky would like to offer its apologies to those who were offended," the spokesman added.

Marsh, who is renowned in football punditry as a controversial figure with a reputation for outspoken views, said he had attempted to "make a lighthearted football joke" about the disaster in which more than 160,000 people perished.

The 60-year-old was the first to land a long-term contract on Sky's flagship Soccer Saturday show, largely for his ability to attract attention from behind the microphone.