[Football] 'Handbags'

Miximate · Nov 29, 2020

BBC footy journalist suspended from his position following a reference to a players scuffle as 'handbags' ...whatever next !

Mind you, it's been reported in the Current Bun so cant be sure of the accuracy.

A BBC football pundit has been suspended after listeners complained that he used an offensive term.

The controversy arose after Steve 'Tommo' Thompson described a bit of a scuffle between two players as 'handbags'.

Steve, 65, used the phrase on BBC Radio Lincolnshire during Lincoln City's 1-0 win at Swindon Town on Tuesday night.

The ex-Lincoln defender and manager, who freelances for the broadcaster, said he was 'devastated' by the decision to suspend him.

Credit: BBC
Credit: BBC
The phrase 'handbags' - similar to 'handbags at dawn' - actually appears in the Collins Dictionary, where it is described as 'an incident in which people, especially sportsmen, fight or threaten to fight, but without real intent to inflict harm'.

One fan, Bernard O'Mahoney wants Thompson to be reinstated.

As reported by The Sun, he said: "As any football fan knows, 'handbags' is an incredibly well-known saying.

"I can't begin to think who'd be offended by it. The BBC has lost touch with the public."

While another fan said: "It's just an old term. The BBC should pay more attention to songs on their stations promoting knife crime and drug use."

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...bc-handbags/&usg=AOvVaw0k8DyCpRmMK4FZb2mVfTD2

GT49er · Nov 29, 2020

If true, it's a bloody pathetic reason for suspending anyone.

Return of the Rev · Nov 29, 2020

Health and safety gone mad

portlock seagull · Nov 29, 2020

No more stereophonics on BBC then!

Eeyore · Nov 29, 2020

The Sun is not telling the whole truth as usual. I don't believe anything they write.

Here is a more detailed report

https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/lincoln-city-football-steve-thompson-4746612

'The BBC said that Steve had previously been warned about his language prior to the game, adding that it was not the first time comments from Steve had provoked listener complaints.

Thompson will not be used by the BBC again until 2021, but as a freelancer cannot be suspended, the BBC have confirmed.

A spokesperson for the BBC said: "Steve made three separate comments while on air that he accepts didn’t meet the standards our listeners expect.

"He has volunteered to undertake training led by the football authorities" '

GT49er · Nov 29, 2020

Brighton Lines said:
The Sun is not telling the whole truth as usual. I don't believe anything they write.

Here is a more detailed report

https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/lincoln-city-football-steve-thompson-4746612

'The BBC said that Steve had previously been warned about his language prior to the game, adding that it was not the first time comments from Steve had provoked listener complaints.........'

Fair enough if he has form, but seriously, did some sad listener actually complain about the use of the word 'handbags'? If so, perhaps they need as much 'retraining' as the broadcaster!

Randy McNob · Nov 29, 2020

Cue the tabloid / L Fox / the 'you can't say anything anymore' brigade outrage

Coldeanseagull · Nov 29, 2020

This pc is getting out of hand and is beyond a joke, who, or rather what can that offend? Maybe the irrational actions of a menstruating female... but they freely admit to hormones being the cause. Maybe it's one of these said females on blob who have the issue, as it does seem irrational

Mr Banana · Nov 29, 2020

Brighton Lines said:
The Sun is not telling the whole truth as usual. I don't believe anything they write.

Here is a more detailed report

https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/lincoln-city-football-steve-thompson-4746612

'The BBC said that Steve had previously been warned about his language prior to the game, adding that it was not the first time comments from Steve had provoked listener complaints.

Thompson will not be used by the BBC again until 2021, but as a freelancer cannot be suspended, the BBC have confirmed.

A spokesperson for the BBC said: "Steve made three separate comments while on air that he accepts didn’t meet the standards our listeners expect.

"He has volunteered to undertake training led by the football authorities" '

That makes sense. Thought it was weird that there was no quote from him. O'Mahoney has a book to flog and appears to be a professional angry man, so seemed like he'd just latched onto it.

Easier to get hits by appealing to the "PC gone mad" / "can't say anything these days" types but the routine would usually be to get a complaint and check that it's broken a code that he was aware of.

Lincoln's Tory councillor got a bit high and mighty about it, which was pleasing.

Swansman · Nov 30, 2020

Plooks said:
Seems reasonable to me. Using an outdated and sexist phrase when plenty of others would do is not really on is it.

Are you saying it is sexist because you think only women use handbags? Very sexist of you to believe such a thing.

Herr Tubthumper · Nov 30, 2020

Plooks said:
No I am not, obviously, stope trying to defend a sexist term.

Would it have been more appropriate to use the term manbags?

Lenny Rider · Nov 30, 2020

Brighton Lines said:
The Sun is not telling the whole truth as usual. I don't believe anything they write.

Here is a more detailed report

https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/lincoln-city-football-steve-thompson-4746612

'The BBC said that Steve had previously been warned about his language prior to the game, adding that it was not the first time comments from Steve had provoked listener complaints.

Thompson will not be used by the BBC again until 2021, but as a freelancer cannot be suspended, the BBC have confirmed.

A spokesperson for the BBC said: "Steve made three separate comments while on air that he accepts didn’t meet the standards our listeners expect.

"He has volunteered to undertake training led by the football authorities" '

Things must have changed then, back in 2008, Hawesy was a BBC employee but I was a freelancer under contract to the BBC, yet we were both suspended on the Thursday the day after the ‘offence’.

What probably hasn’t changed is the listener complaint policy, it would have only taken one single complaint, and then the whole process paid for by the licence payers.

At some point the BBC will have to release the level of complaints, obviously maintaining the complainers anonymity, but will have to say how many actually complained and what they didn’t like.

Back in 2008 when our matter reached the hearing stage it transpired that only one person had complained about what had been said on air at half time of the LDV trophy game between Albion and Leyton Orient, BUT they hadn’t been listening they’d been told about it!

Neville's Breakfast · Nov 30, 2020

Lenny Rider said:
Things must have changed then, back in 2008, Hawesy was a BBC employee but I was a freelancer under contract to the BBC, yet we were both suspended on the Thursday the day after the ‘offence’.

What probably hasn’t changed is the listener complaint policy, it would have only taken one single complaint, and then the whole process paid for by the licence payers.

At some point the BBC will have to release the level of complaints, obviously maintaining the complainers anonymity, but will have to say how many actually complained and what they didn’t like.

Back in 2008 when our matter reached the hearing stage it transpired that only one person had complained about what had been said on air at half time of the LDV trophy game between Albion and Leyton Orient, BUT they hadn’t been listening they’d been told about it!

Such a shame. We used to enjoy listening to you and Hawesy. Kind of symbolized an era.

Tyrone Biggums · Nov 30, 2020

Whenever I hear "handbags" I instantly think of this.

Violent time in British history. Handbags indeed.

Is it PotG? · Nov 30, 2020

https://news.sky.com/story/worlds-most-expensive-handbag-priced-at-5-3m-is-created-to-help-save-the-oceans-12143190

Hampster Gull · Nov 30, 2020

Its bollocks

bobbab5 · Nov 30, 2020

Tyrone Biggums said:
Whenever I hear "handbags" I instantly think of this.

Violent time in British history. Handbags indeed.

Blimey, Lesley Judd was in that.

Gabbafella · Nov 30, 2020

Plooks said:
Seems reasonable to me. Using an outdated and sexist phrase when plenty of others would do is not really on is it.

Is it really sexist? Do you genuinely believe that referring to a scuffle as "handbags" should be outlawed for fear of offending someone?
Absolute nonsense. It merely means that no real fight took place, nothing to do with women at all.

Boroseagull · Nov 30, 2020

https://youtu.be/ZXMMAA6tcMg

Justice · Nov 30, 2020

Plooks said:
Seems reasonable to me. Using an outdated and sexist phrase when plenty of others would do is not really on is it.

Explain how it’s sexist ?

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