JERMAINE PENNANT was hauled off the air by Sky Sports News bosses on Friday, with fans accusing the former Liverpool star of being drunk on live TV.
The ex-Arsenal winger, 37, was seemingly slurring his words and was ignored by fellow panellists during his appearance.
Jermaine Pennant was called ‘drunk’ by fans after he was taken off Sky Sports News midway through a live broadcastCredit: Sky Sports News
Pennant slurred his way through the segment on SSNCredit: Sky Sports News
Pennant is married to glamour model Alice GoodwinCredit: Getty
Pennant married Goodwin in May 2014Credit: Rex Features
Sky Sports told the MailOnline Pennant was taken off air “because his performance on-air failed to meet our standards”.
But there was no mention of him being intoxicated – with a spokesperson for Pennant claiming his behaviour was due to having taken a sleeping pill the night before.
Pennant stumbled through a segment on Sky Sports on Friday morning around 9am, giving long, rambling answers on such topics as Romelu Lukaku’s move to Inter Milan.
Whether by chance or by design, questions appeared to be directed at the other panellists, with Pennant rarely called upon.
In fact, there was a 15-minute period where the journeyman midfielder failed to say a single word.
During an advert break, Pennant was taken off the air with Sky replacing him with journalist David Reed.
A decision was made to take Jermaine off before its conclusion because his performance on-air failed to meet our production standards.
Sky Sports News spokesperson on Jermaine Pennant
Speaking of the reason for Pennant being removed from the set a spokesperson told the Mail: “Jermaine Pennant was a guest on Sky Sports News this morning.
“A decision by our production team was made to take Jermaine off the programme before its conclusion because his performance on-air failed to meet our production standards.”
Sky Sports refused to comment any further, including when asked if Pennant would be afforded the chance to return as a panel guest in the future.
But fans were adamant he was “drunk”, with one tweeting: “Is Jermaine Pennant drunk on Sky Sports News? Seems a bit ‘off’.”
Another said: “@SkySportsNews are barely speaking to Jermaine Pennant, he seemed ‘off’ when he did answer 1 or 2 questions.
“Late night/early morning bang on it? Looks hanging.”
HISTORY OF ALCOHOL ABUSE
Pennant – married to glamour model Alice Goodwin – has a history of alcohol abuse, having been convicted THREE times for drink-driving.
In fact, in 2004, Pennant was banned from driving for 16 months after being caught at nearly twice the legal drink-drive limit.
A year later, Pennant was jailed for three months – during his time at Arsenal – for crashing into a lamppost at twice the legal limit, before driving off with the post still attached to his vehicle.
The former England Under-21 international – who was a controversial guest in the final-ever series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2018, ultimately leading a temporary split with Goodwin over cheat claims – told police at the scene that he was then-team-mate Ashley Cole.
In 2012, Pennant was handed a suspended eight-week jail sentence for drink driving. He was also banned from driving for three years.
On top of that, the footballer – who is yet to officially announce his retirement from football, despite not playing since a 2017 stint at Billericay Town – revealed he was under the influence of alcohol when he scored a hat-trick on his Arsenal debut in 2003.
Pennant once blamed a drink-drive smash on ex-team-mate Ashley ColeCredit: Getty
Pennant gave long, rambling answers during his SSN cameoCredit: Sky Sports News
Pennant and Goodwin have been married for nearly six yearsCredit: Refer to Caption
Pennant scored a hat-trick on his Arsenal debut after a vodka-fuelled night
In his autobiography, Pennant wrote about a party for lad-mag FHM the night before – and how he could
“still feel the vodka bouncing in his stomach” during the match just hours later.
In 2007, Pennant was administered oxygen after he collapsed on a flight to Stansted during a day-long drinking binge, this time during his days at Liverpool.
Pennant – who also featured on Celebs Go Dating in 2019 – is yet to comment on his Sky Sports News appearance.
But a spokesperson for Pennant said: “Jermaine took a sleeping tablet late last night which led to him being disorientated early this morning on Sky Sports.
“He apologises profusely to the production team and understands their decision to replace him.”
Pennant and Goodwin reportedly split for a period last year amidst cheat claims revolving around CBB star Chloe AylingCredit: Instagram @xxalicegoodwinxx
Celebs Go Dating’s Jermaine Pennant tells his wife he’s going to ‘smash her back doors in’ on cringe-worthy date
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
