Sky Sports suspended commentator Jamie Carragher for an indefinite amount of time earlier this week. Now, the network has announced how long that suspension will be — the rest of the football season. “A review will take place prior to the beginning of next season to establish whether Carragher is fit to return,” Sky Sports’ news story said.
As iMediaEthics previously reported, Carragher’s suspension was prompted by a UK Mirror news story reporting that Carragher had spit at a man and his daughter in their car after the man brought up the score of soccer match. The Mirror story included a video of the incident.
iMediaEthics wrote to Sky for more information about the length of the suspension. Sky pointed iMediaEthics to its March 14 news story on the suspension, which included this statement from Sky:
“Following an internal review, Sky has suspended Jamie Carragher for the remainder of the football season.
“Jamie has taken full responsibility for what has happened and we will ensure he gets the help he needs to guarantee something like this never happens again.
“Before the start of the next season we will sit down with Jamie to discuss whether he is ready to return to his role.”
Carragher tweeted the news, adding that “I have already said I take responsibility for what happened. It was a moment of madness and I’m going to speak to the relevant people to ensure something like this never happens again. Again apologies all round.”
Carragher also re-tweeted a news story reporting that the man who he spit at said he has received death threats. Carragher wrote in a tweet accompanying the story, “I’ve made a big mistake & accept full responsibility. I am the only person to blame for this sorry situation, so please leave the family alone.”
iMediaEthics has tweeted Carragher for further comment.