Richard Keys accuses Sian Massey-Ellis of lying and claims she told him ‘it was only banter’ after sexism storm that cost him Sky Sports job

RICHARD KEYS has accused assistant referee Sian Massey-Ellis of lying about what she said to him in the wake of the sexism storm that cost him his job.

Keys was axed from his role as the front-man of Sky's football coverage after his astonishing outburst about Massey-Ellis running the line was caught on microphone.

But six-years after his shameful views were aired the TV presenter is still in denial about his role in the incident and has accused the Premier League official of not telling the truth about the bust-up that followed in an aggressive post on social media.

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Masssey-Ellis, 31, has spoken in depth for the first time about how she was caught up in the sexism storm in an interview in today.

It was January 2011, before a Premier League match between Wolves and Liverpool, that Keys noticed there was a female assistant referee, turned to colleague Andy Gray and said: "Somebody better get down there and explain offside to her."

Gray replied: "Can you believe that? A female linesman. That's exactly why I was saying; women don't know the offside rule."

Keys then said: "Of course they don't......urrghhh. The game's gone mad."

The duo were dumped by Sky in the wake of the comments being made public, along with other unpleasant remarks - and then Keys called Massey-Ellis to apologise.

Speaking to The Times, Massey-Ellis said: "When Richard rang to apologise on behalf of both of them and he said 'I'm sorry', I just said 'For me, I thought you would know better'.

"In their position, they should have known that just to be on that pitch I must have gone through so much.

"So much scrutiny, so much training, so many challenges, so much game pressure. I'm not there without being tried and tested over many years."

But just hours after her story was published Keys - now presenting football for the beIN Sports channel in Doha - refused to let the story lie and took to social media to claim the official was lying over what was said.

In an astonishing tweet, Keys posted a picture of Massey-Ellis' quote and wrote: "No she didn't. She said 'oh come on - it was only banter (her words). I expected it last week at Sunderland.

"Ms Massey also added 'thanks for not showing the one I cocked up really badly'. I've got a record of it all Sian. Bad move."

In the wake of the sexism storm, Keys had originally claimed his remarks about females we 'banter' - and now to claim Massey-Ellis used those words has opened himself up for yet more criticism.

And some are already unhappy at the aggressive tone of the posts.

Keys is currently being divorced by his wife Julia after it emerged he had been seen with a 28-year-old lover despite publicly denying any affair late last year.

Pictures emerged of Keys and Lucie Rose - a former friend of Keys' daughter - strolling near a £400-a-night hotel where he had been staying.

And Julia, 59, claims she is sure her husband's cheating helped lead to her being diagnosed with cancer for a second time.