Female football presenter hits back at sexist abuse after criticising penalty

Lynsey Hipgrave has been subjected to a barrage of sexist abuse online. Photo / Twitter

A female sports presenter has hit back at sexist trolls who deluged her with online abuse.

BT Sport and BBC Radio Five Live broadcaster Lynsey Hipgrave went on Twitter this week to criticise a penalty taken by Barcelona player Lionel Messi in the team's match against Celta Vigo at the weekend.

Instead of shooting straight at the goalkeeper, Messi kicked the ball to his teammate Luis Suarez who then scored - in a move that was widely labelled as arrogant.

On Monday, Hipgrave joined the debate, tweeting: "Think that Messi pen is so disrespectful more I see it. Just let Suárez take the pen if you want to be such a good team-mate."

Think that Messi pen is so disrespectful more I see it. Just let Suarez take the pen if you want to be such a good team mate.

— Lynsey Hipgrave (@lynseyhipgrave1) February 15, 2016

Within minutes, the 36-year-old presenter had been subjected to a barrage of sexist abuse.

One Twitter user wrote: "We need sandwiches not opinions you slag".

Another posted: "Honestly no one cares what you think cos you have a pair of t**s".

"And ladies and gentlemen, this is why we don't hire any females unless we need our d***s sucked or our food cooked," read one vile message.

Twitter members also questioned 'why they let women watch football'.

Hipgrave, who joined BT Sport In 2013, said the abuse summed-up how hard it is for women to express their opinion publically.

She tweeted: "Just a very small taster of what we have to put up with. The crime was being a woman and expressing an opinion."

Just a very small taster of what we have to put up with. The crime was being a woman and expressing an opinion. Still a long way to go

— Lynsey Hipgrave (@lynseyhipgrave1) February 15, 2016

The presenter also shared the worst comments with her 27,000 followers. She hasn't been on Twitter since the abuse began on Monday this week.

This is the latest incident in a series of rows about sexism in football. Last year, then Chelsea FC manager Jose Mourinho was criticised after axing team doctor Eva Carneiro after she ran on to the pitch to treat an injured player without his approval.

Mourinho said: "I wasn't happy with my medical staff because even if you are a medical doctor or secretary on the bench, you have to understand the game."

While in 2011, Sky Sports presenters Richard Keys and Andy Gray left the station after accusing assistant referee Sian Massey of not understanding football off-air. Grey said: "Can you believe that? A female linesman. Women don't know the offside rule".

In 2014, it emerged that Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore had joked about "female irrationality" in a series of email exchanges with colleagues, prompting his former PA to label him "institutionally sexist". Scudamore was later cleared of breaching the FA's anti-discrimination rules.