Richard Keys confirms departure from beIN Sports
Richard Keys has announced his impending exit from beIN Sports, refuting claims of a retirement from broadcasting. Reports surfaced last week indicating that the network would not renew Keys’ contract upon its expiration at the end of the season, coinciding with the departure of his long-time broadcasting partner, Andy Gray, 70, reports BritPanorama.
The 68-year-old addressed the circumstances surrounding his departure in a recent blog post, stating, “There has been no fall out between myself and beINSPORTS.” He expressed his fondness for Qatar, where he has lived for over a decade, describing it as a place that holds deep significance for him.
Keys remarked, “I’ve loved every minute of my time in Qatar – a country that means the world to me. I have a deep affection for it, but it’s time for me to move on. I’m not retiring – simply changing course. There’s a whole lot more to come yet.” Both Keys and Gray are set to sign off from the channel in May.
During their tenure at beIN Sports, Keys and Gray became the leading faces of Premier League and Champions League coverage across the Middle East and North Africa, also taking on presenting roles during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The duo has been based in Doha since 2013, following their contentious exit from Sky Sports amid a sexism scandal in 2011.
Their departure from Sky Sports came after inappropriate comments made by Gray and off-air remarks recorded about assistant referee Sian Massey became public. Keys resigned shortly after Gray’s dismissal. Upon leaving beIN, Keys is expected to permanently relocate to the UK, moving in with his wife, Lucie Rose, 37, following years of a long-distance relationship.
The couple married in a private ceremony in Devon in June 2023, a wedding reported to have cost £20,000, although neither of Keys’ children attended the event. Keys’ marriage to Julia Keys ended in 2016, amid public scrutiny and personal turmoil.
As he prepares for this new chapter, Keys’ broadcast legacy remains intertwined with the dramatic shifts within sports media, a telling reflection of how swiftly careers can evolve in the public eye.
