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Sunday, September 29, 2013

Robbie Fowler apologised after accusing Fernando Torres and Jan Vertonghen were fighting "like girls"

Football pundit Robbie Fowler ­apologised to TV viewers yesterday after accusing two Premiership stars of “pulling at each other like a pair of girls”.


The former Liverpool striker made his controversial remarks on BBC1’s Final Score show while discussing clashes between Fernando Torres and Jan Vertonghen during the Chelsea v Spurs game.

He later apologised, saying: “I’m very sorry. I didn’t mean to offend anyone.” His comments were made on the same day that former Radio 4 newsreader Charlotte Green became the first female to read the classified football results on BBC Radio 5 live.

Angry viewers took to Twitter suggesting that Fowler, 38, was being derogatory about women’s football. Celebrity publicist Mark Borkowski wrote: “Robbie Fowler eating humble pie for dissing women’s football on #BBCFinalScore. ­Charlotte Green 10 v sexist git 0. New pundit in the wings.”

But others tweeted in support of the former England player, and criticised the BBC for being too politically correct.

Graham Neaves wrote: “I’m no Robbie Fowler apologist but why was he made to apologise like an errant schoolboy? The world is going mad with its sensitivities.”

Sources said the BBC had received “numerous” complaints. A spokeswoman said: “Robbie made a comment during the live studio chat and was concerned it may have caused offence, so decided to make an apology before the end of the show.”