'There's two sides to every story': Jermaine Jenas breaks silence after being fired from Match of the Day
22 August 2024, 18:53 | Updated: 22 August 2024, 20:42
Jermaine Jenas has broken his silence after being sacked by the BBC following complaints of "inappropriate behaviour."
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The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has been dropped by the corporation for which he presented The One Show and appeared as a pundit on Match of the Day.
Jenas, 41, was tipped by many to succeed Gary Lineker as presenter of the BBC's flagship football programme.
A spokesman said: "We can confirm that Jermaine Jenas is no longer part of our presenting lineup."
Jenas was sacked following complaints of inappropriate behaviour a few weeks ago and has been removed from agency MC Saatchi's website, according to reports.
But the former Premier League star has hit back at the reported allegations, claiming "there are two sides to every story."
Speaking to Times Radio on Thursday evening, Jenas said: "I can't really talk about it. As you can probably see, I'm not happy about it. But currently as it stands I'm going to have to let the lawyers deal with it.
"There's two sides... that's all I can say now."
He added: "I'm not happy about this situation. I'm going to be speaking to my lawyers about it, is all I can say right now."
Jenas said he couldn't talk about the subjects of most questions asked by the radio station but agreed with the interviewer when the latter said: "I can see you're fuming."
The former footballer also declined to say whether he has begun legal proceedings.
The complaints involve digital communications such as texts, leading to the BBC taking action after he was last on air earlier in the summer.
Jenas has a presenting role at talkSport and was live on air when the news broke of his sacking.
A spokesperson for talkSport said the station was "made aware of a breaking news story involving Jermaine Jenas as he went on air for a one-off presenting slot on talkSport Drive".
A statement added: "We made a decision - with Jermaine - that he should continue to present the show.
"Given the array of serious allegations being reported as the story continues to evolve, it's for Jermaine as a private individual to address them in the way he chooses.
"There are no plans for Jermaine to broadcast as a presenter on talkSport in the immediate future."
One source has reportedly said: "It all came as a massive shock but his colleagues have now been told the news and he won't be back.
"His colleagues are stunned, they didn't see it coming at all. They were kept in the dark to start with. They couldn't believe it when they found out."
Another source said: "This is a categorical nightmare for the BBC.
"After some immediate routine enquiries the decision was taken to take him off air, and terminate his contract."
Jenas earned £190,000 - £194,999 at the BBC for his work on the FA Cup, Match of the Day and the World Cup.
His work on The One Show was for BBC Studios, the BBC's commercial production company, so his salary is not in the public domain.
Jenas is also employed by TNT Sports who told the BBC they were not making any comment.
