Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers urged to apologise after calling female journalist 'good girl'

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been labelled as “a dinosaur” and urged to apologise after calling a female reporter “a good girl” during a radio interview on Sunday.

His remarks have seen him accused of “casual sexism”.

Rodgers was speaking to BBC reporter Jane Lewis after his side fought back from 1-0 down to defeat Motherwell 3-1 at Fir Park on Sunday.

The Celtic boss gave an irritated response early in the interview that showed he wasn’t happy at a focus on the first half performance, and then, in reference to the title race, stated that “the story has already been written about this group, but we will write our own story”.

When Lewis pressed him to explain the remark, asking “You don’t want to give us a bit more insight into that and what you mean?” Rodgers said “no” repeatedly and sharply told the journalist “You know exactly what I mean”.

Lewis replied that she wasn’t sure what the manager meant by his comments and that people would be interested to hear more, prompting Rodgers to end the interview.

After Rodgers was asked if he could say more, he replied “Okay, done. Good girl. Well done, cheers.”.

Lewis laughed and told listeners: “There you go, he’s done”.

"Good girl"

– Brendan Rodgers 2024, condescendingly while addressing a female sports reporterpic.twitter.com/YqMVHSxNFs
— Sᴛᴜᴀʀᴛ ᴍᴀᴄ (@ottawascot) February 25, 2024

The interview has drawn hundreds of comments online, while two womens’ groups have decried Rodgers’ remarks.

Scottish Feminist Network said: “Jane Lewis was just doing her job today, trying to extract an explanation from Brendan Rodgers on his cryptic comment.

“That the go-to attitude of a manager of a winning team was condescension is quite illuminating but really very depressing in 2024.

“We thought dinosaurs were extinct.”

For Women Scotland said that Rodgers should say sorry for his comments.

A spokesperson said: “It’s depressing that casual sexism is still embedded in sport.

“Women’s achievements are underrated and dismissed, and their professional status undermined. Rodgers owes the reporter an apology.”