Richard Keys and Andy Gray, the former Sky Sports presenters, may join Arab TV network al-Jazeera.

Keys and Gray, who left Sky this week after tapes of them making sexist comments were leaked on the internet, are apparently highly desirable to the Middle East broadcaster, which is seeking to expand its football coverage, the Evening Standard reports.

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Keys, 53, is due for talks today at the company’s headquarters in Doha, Qatar, and is understood to be negotiating on behalf of former Everton striker Gray.

A source told the newspaper: “Richard is out there at the moment. It is fair to say there is interest on al-Jazeera’s part. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility – they both have friends in Doha.”

Richard Keys and Andy Gray, who were sacked from Sky amid a media storm, would have to spend a lot of time in the Qatari capital, but could also broadcast from the network’s London base.

Richard Keys resigns over sexism scandal

Launched in 2006, al-Jazeera English is the sister channel of Arabic news station al-Jazeera.

It is owned by the Qatari royal family and run by Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, cousin of the emir of Qatar.

Al Jazeera broadcasts to more than 130 million households in over 100 countries.

Former footballer Gary Lineker is already a presenter on the network.

However, following a deal to broadcast three World Cups in the Middle East and Africa, al-Jazeera is interested in boost its profile.

The oil-rich nation is hosting the 2022 tournament.

Keys and Gray were forced to leave Sky Sports after they were caught making offensive remarks about female assistant referee, Sian Massey.

Today it emerged 25-year-old Massey has withdrawn from a second match.

She will not run the line at Corby Town v Eastwood Town tomorrow, having been stood down from Crewe Alexandra v Bradford City on Tuesday.

A spokesman for Professional Game Match Officials, which represents referees, said it was a joint decision with Massey.

“The attention should be on the match, not the official,” he said.

Yesterday Keys’s wife Julia defended her husband, saying: “I think Sky have been significantly offside in the way they handled it.”