Pundit Karen Carney has deleted her Twitter account after being subject to abuse from thousands of football fans in the aftermath of Leeds United’s 5-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.
Following the victory, the club’s official Twitter account called out Carney, who was appearing as a pundit on Amazon Prime’s coverage of the game, for comments she had made on the team regarding burnout.
The tweet contained a video recorded and posted by a Leeds supporter, showing Carney making the comments in question.
The decision to send the tweet led to thousands of replies from Leeds fans, with a number of them sexist and abusive in nature.
Despite immediate criticism over the decision to send the tweet, Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani defended the club and said he took responsibility for the situation. He also criticised Carney for what he described as “disrespectful” comments.
A Leeds statement read: “Everyone at our club respects Karen greatly for all she has achieved in the game, as well as her work in the media and the charity work she undertakes.”
The Leeds United tweet remains live, and currently has close to 60,000 Likes, with the club reportedly under the belief that deleting it will provoke a second wave of abuse.
Women In Football, a network dedicated to driving the involvement and equality of women in football, condemned Leeds for the post.
“Whether you agree with the comment or not, singling out & ridiculing an individual on an official club account is not what we’re here for. Karen Carney is a well-informed pundit. This tweet is inciteful & inappropriate. Not a good look now, or at any time.”
USWNT international Megan Rapinoe also condemned it in a tweet: “Shame. Shame. Shame. Thicken up that skin y’all. Also, don’t come for [Karen Carney] she’s a National treasure.”
