Triple M, Marty Sheargold’s Matildas comments breached decency rules, regulator finds

Radio station Triple M breached decency rules by broadcasting offensive comments made by former presenter Marty Sheargold about the Matildas and women’s sport, according to an investigation report from the industry regulator.

Sheargold forced to apologise for Matildas comments

Comedian Marty Sheargold and the Triple M radio program bearing his name did not go to air after he and the station were forced to apologise for comments he made about the Matildas.

Sheargold and Triple M “mutually agreed to part ways” in February after the comedian said he “would rather hammer a nail through the head of [his] penis” than watch the Matildas play in next year’s Asian Cup, while discussing the national women’s football team.

The presenter also said that the Matildas reminded him of year 10 girls.

After the audio of the segment flooded social media pages, Triple M and Sheargold were forced to apologise for the comments.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) said on Thursday that an investigation into the incident found Triple M had breached the Commercial Radio Code of Practice by “allowing derogatory language and sexist themes to be broadcast”.

“The sexist comments, expressed in a demeaning and sarcastic tone, demonstrated a level of contempt and disdain for women’s sport, and more generally of women,” a statement released by ACMA said.

The Matildas will represent Australia when the country hosts the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup. (AAP: Richard Wainwright)

Carolyn Lidgerwood, an ACMA member, said Sheargold’s comments “don’t belong in Australian broadcasting”.

“Even if the comments were an extremely ill-judged attempt at humour, a reasonable listener would have found them offensive and to have crossed the line,” Ms Lidgerwood said.

About 100 people contacted ACMA in February to complain about Sheargold’s on-air comments, according to the regulator.

Marty Sheargold, Triple M part ways following Matildas furore

Marty Sheargold and Triple M have “mutually agreed to part ways”, after the radio host made offensive comments about the Matildas on air.

Sheargold’s comments were made alongside his Triple M co-hosts Troy Ellis and Will Ralston during a news bulletin about the Matildas’ defeats in the SheBelieves Cup.

When discussing that tournament, Sheargold said: “She believes in what? It better be men.”

“The ACMA finds that these comments were overtly sexist and conveyed to the ordinary reasonable listener that women’s sport is inferior in comparison to men’s sport,” the ACMA report said.

“Combined with the high levels of community respect for the Matildas and their role in promoting women’s soccer and sport, the discussion overall was unacceptable and breached generally acceptable standard of decency,” it added.

Matildas stars were among those to criticise Marty Sheargold’s comments. (AAP: Richard Wainwright)

The segment sparked a backlash against Sheargold and Triple M, including from Football Australia, which said the remarks “not only diminish the extraordinary achievements and contributions of our women’s national football team, but also fail to recognise the profound impact they have had on Australian sport and society”.

 “All female athletes deserve to be covered with the same level of professionalism and respect afforded to their male counterparts,” a Football Australia statement said in February.

After its earlier apology, Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) — the media company that owns and operates Triple M — responded to the complaints made to ACMA by acknowledging the remarks “were not ideal listening and did not align with SCA’s company values”. However, it said they did not believe they were offensive.

“Nothing in those comments was, in our view, offensive to generally acceptable standards of decency for a Triple M Listener,” SCA said, according to the ACMA investigation report.

“When sports teams perform badly (and it is arguable the Matildas are not playing at their best], there are harsh comments made from time to time. 

“Off-field behaviour is discussed (and often relevant to entertainment shows) and opinions given with respect to antics both on and off the field. Some opinions are unpopular and controversial. 

“This is not uncommon on many radio stations throughout Australia, Triple M included. Making disdainful comments about the behaviour of the Matildas (and was done in the Comments) is not indecent.”

‘Shocking’, ‘unacceptable’ and ‘offensive’: Albanese slams Sheargold

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese adds his condemnation to Marty Sheargold following his comments about the Matildas, while former athletes Libby Trickett, Melissa Barbieri and Kate McShea also speak out.

On February 26, two days after the comments were made, Sheargold was absent from the Triple M program where his comments were first broadcast and SCA ultimately made the decision to remove the show from the station’s line-up.

The comments quickly drew harsh criticism from members of the Matildas squad, former interim coach Tom Sermanni and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

“They were just shocking comments. That anyone could think it, let alone say it,” Mr Albanese said during an interview on Melbourne’s Nova radio.

“It’s just not funny. It’s offensive. And these are great athletes; they performed so well to get to the semis in the World Cup. But even if they didn’t, so what? They were doing their best … [they’re] better footballers than all the blokes who are critiquing them.”

The ACMA says it is now considering potential “enforcement action” against Southern Cross Austereo, but has yet to detail which potential penalties could be handed down.