Countdown’s Rachel Riley ‘quits’ football punditry after ‘hideous’ abuse over Spurs remark
COUNTDOWN host Rachel Riley has reportedly quit her TV football punditry gig after suffering online abuse.
Rachel Riley calls Spurs "proper bottle job" after West Ham defeat
Rachel Riley has reportedly quit her football punditry gig
The 31-year-old was attacked by social media users last month when she called Tottenham Hotspur’s performance a “proper bottle job” on Friday Night Football.
The 1-0 defeat to West Ham ended Spurs’ hopes of winning the Premier League and confirmed Chelsea’s win.
Discussing the crucial loss, Rachel said on the Sky Sports programme: “It’s déjà vu for Spurs isn’t it, a proper bottle job.”
But her remark didn’t go down well with Spurs fans who flocked to Twitter and sent her messages with what she described as “hideous abuse”.
Rachel Riley received online abuse over her Spurs remark
Rachel Riley presented alongside Jeff Stelling on Friday Night Football
Now it has been reported that Rachel has stepped down from the presenting gig which she hosted alongside Jeff Stelling.
A Sky Sports source told the Daily Mirror: “At the end of the season she contacted the head of football, saying she felt it wasn’t right to be part of that programme.
"This was something she was considering in advance of the West Ham-Spurs match.”
At the time, the blonde bombshell defended her choice of words and said she used the term “bottle job” in reference to the match, not the team.
Rachel Riley has reportedly left her job at Friday Night Football
Rachel Riley suffered online abuse from Twitter trolls
She tweeted: “Didn’t mean any offence to Spurs or their fans tonight just a surprise to slip v WHam with their form on paper. Personal abuse is hideous.
“For the record I didn’t say Spurs are bottle jobs but tonight’s game was a test of nerve.
“I love football, always have, always will, banter is fun, abuse is not whoever/whatever/wherever #respect.”
Express.co.uk has contacted a representative of Rachel Riley for comment.