OPINION
In a moment of testosterone-fuelled indignation, radio presenter Marty Sheargold ripped into the Matildas, delivering a spray that, while undoubtedly crude, was the kind of off-the-cuff opinion radio thrives on. He is a shock jock after all. The problem? His comments weren’t just seen as off-colour—they were outright misogynistic. Marty went too far, and then doubled down. Now, Sheargold finds himself out of a job, his reputation in tatters, and the outrage machine in full swing, complete with Albo chiming in.
Let’s be clear: what he said was dumb. Comparing the Matildas to “Year 10 girls” and openly mocking the SheBelieves Cup was lazy at best, and dismissive at worst. His quip about men’s sport being the only thing worth watching? The kind of outdated blokey banter that doesn’t sit the way it used to in 1980. No one’s arguing that his comments weren’t disrespectful—his own swift backpedal and formal apology proved as much, as did his decision to “part ways” with Triple M.
But here’s the uncomfortable question: was the punishment proportionate to the crime?
Sheargold has been taken off air, effectively losing his platform, his paycheque, and his career in one fell swoop. In a time when sports commentators regularly critique the off-field antics of male athletes—often harshly and without consequence—it’s worth asking whether this reaction was an overcorrection. Was Sheargold fired because he crossed a genuine line, or because outrage has become the currency of the day?
Criticising sports stars, their performances, and even their attitudes has long been fair game in the industry. If a male football team were torn apart for off-field drama—no shortage of contenders there—no one would bat an eye. But the Matildas, as national heroes and symbols of women’s sport, have a level of protection from society that makes them delicate to criticism, albeit put inappropriately. Sheargold should’ve known better, but is it fair that his shock-jock spray has cost him everything?
The episode highlights the evolving landscape of media and sport—one where the lines between legitimate criticism, casual banter, and outright sexism are blurrier than ever. The Matildas deserve respect, and Sheargold deserves to be called out, but does he deserve career exile, to have his livelihood stopped, to be cancelled? That’s the part of this story still up for debate.
