Channel Seven star Mel McLaughlin slams Marty Sheargold over his ‘pathetic’ Matildas outburst in emotional statement on live TV

Channel Seven star Mel McLaughlin has torn strips off sacked Triple M host Marty Sheargold after his comments about the Matildas sparked outrage among Aussie sport fans.

The radio star was axed by the broadcaster on Wednesday night over his outburst about the national women’s soccer team on Monday, which saw him branded sexist and misogynist.

He was condemned by sports stars, interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni, Football Australia and Federal Sports Minister Anika Wells before McLaughlin hit him with a stunning broadside on Seven’s Wednesday night bulletin.

‘Just a word on the bizarre, pathetic and pretty embarrassing comments we heard earlier regarding our mighty Matildas,’ she began.

‘They obviously do not represent how any of us feel, and hopefully all the boys and girls out there know that.

‘Record World Cup numbers and ongoing sold-out stadiums continue to speak volumes.

Sheargold (pictured) was axed from his Triple M job on Wednesday in the wake of widespread outrage over his outburst about the national women’s team

‘This is by no means a backward step on how far we’ve come, and women’s football and women’s sport in general as we know, guys, is awesome.’

On Monday, Sheargold told his Triple M listeners there’s something wrong with the Matildas’ as he reacted to the team’s 2-1 defeat by the USA and 4-0 loss to Japan at the SheBelieves Cup tournament.

He went on to compare the team to ‘Year 10 girls’ and asked if superstar striker Sam Kerr and her fiancee Kristie Mewis ‘play the same position’.

‘You know what they remind me of? Year 10 girls… All the infighting and all the friendship issues, ‘the coach hates me and I hate bloody training and Michelle’s being a bitch,’ Sheargold said. 

When his co-hosts tried to continue discussing the SheBelieves Cup, Sheargold jumped in, exclaiming: ‘Oh, she believes in what? It better be men.’ 

The conversation then moved to Australia hosting the women’s Asian Cup next year.

‘Oh god. The Asian Cup,’ Sheargold said.

‘I’d rather hammer a nail through the head of my penis than watch that.

Sheargold singled out Matildas superstar Sam Kerr (pictured) during the wild ‘sexist’ rant that cost him his job

The 53-year-old comedian compared the Matildas (Mary Fowler, pictured) to ‘Year 10 girls’ before saying he’d rather mutilate his genitals than watch them play

McLaughlin branded the first apologies from Triple M and Sheargold ‘actually pathetic’

‘Got any men’s sport?’

Triple M released a statement on Wednesday evening following the shocking comments, stating it has ‘mutually agreed to part ways’ with the radio star after four years of working together.

Southern Cross Austereo’s chief content officer Dave Cameron said: ‘Triple M and Marty Sheargold have mutually agreed to part ways.

‘Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) takes its responsibility to listeners, shareholders, and clients seriously and its programming should align with the standards and expectations of its audience. 

‘Right now, it’s clear this is a moment for reflection and review. Triple M, and the wider SCA network, will continue to take all necessary steps to support staff.

‘A new Drive show will be announced in due course. Triple M acknowledges Marty’s contribution over the past four years, and we wish him well for the future.’

Sheargold also released a statement on his exit from the radio network, adding an apology to the Matildas for his ‘sexist’ remarks.

‘Having mutually agreed to part ways with the Triple M Network, I fully understand the gravity of my comments,’ he said.

‘I’d like to sincerely apologise to the Matildas and the broader organisation. I would also like to thank my immediate team for their hard work and apologise for the situation they now find themselves in.’

Sheargold’s axing from Triple M was foreshadowed earlier in the day when the broadcaster did not air his show in the usual time slot.

He and Triple M also made apologies earlier on Wednesday, with McLaughlin reposting their statements on her Instagram account along with the caption ‘Actually pathetic’.

Sheargold was also slammed by several big names of Aussie sport when his comments came to light.

‘As sporting teams we’re used to criticism but sometimes the comments cross the line,’ interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni said.

‘That one certainly did cross the line; it was completely unnecessary and generally outrageous.’

Anika Wells branded his comments ‘boorish, boring and wrong’ while former Matildas star Alex Chidiak wrote that she was ‘so sick of this s**t’ and current Matilda Clare Wheeler said, ‘Sport is for everyone and these views are for no one.’