A sports writers' association has apologised after an after-dinner speaker at its awards allegedly littered his speech with off-colour jibes, prompting a walk-out by female attendees.
Eilidh Barbour, who reports for Sky Sports News and BBC Sport, criticised the tone of ex-criminal defence lawyer Bill Copeland's speech at the Scottish Football Writers' Association (SFWA) dinner on Sunday.
In a tweet that has since gone viral, she wrote: "Never felt so unwelcome in the industry I work in than sitting at the Scottish Football Writers Awards.
"A huge reminder there is still so much to do in making our game an equal place #callitout #equalgame."
Dunkeld-born Barbour's table stood up and left the room in protest at Copeland's speech, which was allegedly littered with sexist and racist jibes.
While her tweet did not identify Copeland, others who had also been in attendance at the dinner - handing out awards to Scottish football's best performers in the last year - came forward to identify him as the speaker.
Others also joined Barbour in standing up from their tables and leaving the room in disgust.
Gabriella Bennett, co-chair of Women In Journalism Scotland (WIJS), said her table stood up and walked out alongside Barbour's shortly after his speech began.
She told the Record: "In first five minutes that I listened to there were three or four really crass and sexist references to women that segued into a racial slur.
"After the first couple of jokes I leant over to the person I was there with and said, 'I really don't like this.' It wasn't even funny. Just really poor taste.
"When he used the racial slur I just thought, 'I don't want to hear any of this anymore' so we got up and left. It was a particularly offensive remark."
Bennett said the tone of the speech was a symptom of a wider problem in Scottish football - namely the under-representation of women working in sports coverage.
"It's horrible to hear this kind of thing but not shocking, because of the stories I've heard from other women in my work with WIJS.
"Progress is being made but this is something women come up against all the time.
"It's passed off as banter, or we're told it's only a joke, and a lot of people were laughing last night, which was disappointing."
Bill Copeland is advertised as an after-dinner speaker through a number of talent agencies.
One listing says that clients have "warmed to the unique brand of Copeland humour".
A number have sinced removed Copeland from their websites following the fall-out from his SFWA speech.
In a joint statement, anti-racism group Kick It Out and Women in Football condemned the SFWA for its choice of speaker.
They said: "We have been made aware of sexist, racist and homophobic remarks made at the Scottish Football Writers' Awards last night, during an after-dinner speech.
"Events that celebrate talent in our game should be a time to focus on the positives and all the people who have played their part in pushing football forward.
"It should not be used as a platform to share derogatory and discriminatory comments and make groups and communities feel excluded and insulted.
"We expect better and we demand better."
In a statement issued on Monday, the SFWA said: "The Scottish Football Writers’ Association apologises to anyone offended or upset by material from one of our after-dinner speakers at last night’s annual awards dinner.
"We have agreed unanimously that this will act as a catalyst to review and improve the format of our future events to make it an enjoyable and inspirational event for all."
A Women in Journalism Scotland spokesperson said: "Women in Journalism Scotland (WiJS) stands with all those who walked out in the middle of an offensive after-dinner speech at the Scottish Football Writers’ Association awards dinner last night.
"It is a matter of great concern to us that it is still deemed acceptable to behave and speak in such a disparaging manner towards women. This is not banter for the minority groups who are the butt of the jokes.
"Sports journalism appears to be among the last bastions of misogyny within journalism.
"In a recent survey carried out at the end of last year, WiJS discovered that of around 95 sports desk staff jobs at Scottish newspapers, just three were filled by women.
"There are no female sports editors, which shows the lack of career path available to women in this sector, especially when you consider that many of our current newspaper editors rose through the ranks via sports desks.
"Dark corners of our industry still exist, where outdated attitudes – which wouldn't be acceptable elsewhere – are still condoned.
"Members tell us about derisory attitudes towards women who report on sport, all-male voices in morning news conferences, sexist jokes in actual and virtual rooms, an intimidating atmosphere in the football press box and more.
"Disturbingly, we also hear stories that when women are offered jobs writing about sport, it is often on lower salaries than male counterparts, with fewer promotions offered and little flexibility.
"As a result, fewer women are attracted to the sector and those who do go into it, leave because of what they find.
"It’s time to call time on the sexist shame of the beautiful game."
Representatives for Copeland were contacted for comment.
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