Andy Gray is expected to be dropped as the commentator for the hugely-popular FIFA video games after the world governing body stressed their stance against discrimination in football.
Gray, sacked by Sky Sports this week for making disparaging remarks about female assistant referee Sian Massey, is used on the current FIFA 11 game produced by Electronic Arts as co-commentator to Clive Tyldesley, and has done so for the past six years.
FIFA said today a decision on Gray will be made later this year but said discrimination against gender in football is "strictly prohibited".
A FIFA spokesman said: "We work very closely with all of our commercial affiliates to ensure that our relationship is managed in line with FIFA's core values and our shared view that football is a powerful unifying force. At this time, a decision on the in-game commentators for the next edition of the FIFA game has not yet been taken and an announcement will be made by EA later this year.
"Article 3 of the FIFA statutes highlights FIFA's clear stance against discrimination in football, including discrimination against gender. This is strictly prohibited and punishable by suspension or expulsion."
Anyone tuning in Sky Sports' Soccer AM show on Saturday morning expecting the usual slot with Andy Gray's famous catchphrase 'take a bow son' will be disappointed.
It has been made abundantly clear to production staff on the show that using any of Gray's catchphrases is out of bounds.
