TV bombshell as Richard Keys and Andy Gray to leave beIN Sports after 13 years

Long-serving broadcasters Richard Keys and Andy Gray are set to leave beIN Sports at the end of the season and will not present the Qatar-based network's coverage of the World Cup

Andy Gray and Richard Keys are stepping down(Image: Instagram/richardkeysofficial)

Soccer TV duo Richard Keys and Andy Gray are poised to depart from beIN Sports after a 13-year stint, with their exit expected at the end of this season in May.

The veteran pair will not be presenting the Qatar-based network's coverage of the World Cup this summer. Keys, 68, and Gray, 70, were synonymous with Sky Sports' soccer coverage in the United Kingdom for nearly two decades until their departure in 2011.

Gray's dismissal came after he made sexist comments about assistant referee Sian Massey, with Keys - who recently encouraged Manchester United to appoint Xabi Alonso as the club's next manager - resigning shortly after his own remarks came to light.

The seasoned broadcaster Keys and former Scotland international Gray found a new base in the Middle East, leading beIN's Premier League coverage since 2013.

However, according to The Athletic, they are set to part ways with the broadcaster in the coming months.

It's reported that both Keys and Gray's contracts are due to expire at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, with neither expected to renew.

Keys is leaving beIN Sports(Image: beIN Sports)

The report assures there has been no fallout, and the pair will leave beIN on good terms.

Their decision to leave is said to be influenced by several factors, including their ages and the evolving landscape of sports punditry.

Broadcasters are striving to keep pace with current trends driven by social media influencers, YouTubers and fan channels, which are reducing the significance of traditional pre and post-match shows.

beIN Sports did not provide a response when contacted for comment by The Athletic.

During their tenure in Qatar, Keys and Gray have welcomed high-profile guests, including Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger, and frequently collaborate with Nigel de Jong and Jason McAteer.

However, their professional reputations remain tainted by the incident in January 2011.

Gray became a household name following his soccer career. The 20-cap Scotland international played for Dundee United, Aston Villa, Wolves, Everton, Notts County, West Brom, Rangers and Cheltenham before moving into punditry.

Gray won several trophies during his career, including two League Cups, the FA Cup, and the European Cup Winners' Cup.