Scandal in Australia: A presenter is fired for saying that he preferred to "stab a nail in his penis" than watch women's football

The Australian women's football team, popularly known as the ' Matildas ', reached the semi-finals of the last World Cup , held in their country. This result, together with the organisation of the World Cup, is considered there as a great success and an extraordinary boost for women's sport. However, not everyone thinks so.

This is the case of Marty Sheargold, comedian and presenter on one of Australia's largest radio stations, who, while commenting on the defeat of the 'Matildas' against the United States team during the group stage of the 'SheBelieves' Cup, uttered some words that have cost him his immediate dismissal from the radio station ' Triple M '.

Sheargold, discussing the possibility of watching his team play in the Asian Cup next year in Australia, said he would "rather stick a nail in my penis." "Do you have any male sports?" he added, to the laughter of his fellow commentators. The Australian commentator said the match was boring and that the players reminded him of "tenth grade girls," referring to teams of girls aged between 14 and 15.

Football Australia said it was “deeply disappointed by the unacceptable comments” from the presenter. “They not only belittle the extraordinary achievements and contributions of our national women’s football team , but also fail to recognise the profound impact they have had on Australian sport and society.”

Australian football's governing body acknowledged that both Sheargold and the radio station had apologised for the controversial remarks, but called for "respectful and constructive discussions about women's sport and its participants." "All female athletes deserve to be treated with the same level of professionalism and respect afforded to their male counterparts," it added.

Coach Tom Sermanni, who is leading the team in the SheBelieves Cup taking place in the United States, was much harsher, describing the radio host's comments as "scandalous" and "completely unnecessary."

Even Australian sporting figures outside of football have criticised Sheargold's comments, with hockey player Rosie Malone taking to Instagram to write: "It's 2025 and something like this is being broadcast on prime time radio... disgusting."

Following the uproar caused by Marty Sheargold's live remarks, the broadcaster issued an official statement of apology, stating that the commentator's words "do not match the opinions and values" of the channel.

In the same note, Sheargold himself apologized, arguing that "any comedy, including my own, can fail at times, and I can understand why people may have been offended by my comments about the Matildas. I sincerely apologize. I fully understand the gravity of my comments . I want to sincerely apologize to the Matildas."

The Australian women's football team is an example of success, as beyond having reached the semi-finals in "their" World Cup, they usually fill the stadiums where they play, even gathering more spectators than the men's team.