- The incoming CEO of England's Premier League, the top level of the English football league system, has resigned after leaked texts showed his correspondence with a young, female coworker.
- David Pemsel was CEO of the Guardian for more than 8 years and was two months out from starting his role at the Premier League when texts he sent a "twentysomething" at the publication surfaced in the Sun.
- The Sun has since taken down the article, but the texts are still published on the right-wing blog Guido Fawkes. Pemsel, who is married, appears to have texted the junior coworker comments that include, "I suggest we kiss and see what happens."
- The Guardian reported that Pemsel, 51, resigned after "allegations appeared" about "his private life," and interim CEOs will head The Guardian and the Premier League in his absence.
- Update: On 3 March 2020, The Sun issued an apology in connection with its now-removed November 28, 2019, article. In part, the apology states that Mr Pemsel complained that he did not behave as alleged, and that they accept that the article did not accurately reflect his position.
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David Pemsel has resigned from England's Premier League two months before he was set to assume the role of CEO, after leaked texts he sent a young, female junior coworker at the Guardian surfaced in the Sun.
The Sun's article about the text messages, in which Pemsel - who is married - appears to proposition his colleague, has since been taken down. The precise nature of Pemsel's relationship with the colleague is unknown. But in an article about Pemsel's resignation published Friday, the Guardian cites "allegations" about "his private life" as the reason for him stepping down.
Screenshots of the alleged texts sent between Pemsel, 51, and the "twentysomething" female employee at the Guardian were also published on the right-wing blog Guido Fawkes (which appeared to be down at the time of publication after too much web traffic).
NoSuchBucketThe screenshots obtained by Guido Fawkes show a screen's worth of texts reportedly sent between the two on Friday, September 6 and Wednesday, October 23. In September, Pemsel appears to respond to something the coworker says with "Well I'll pick a restaurant that makes a dress like that mandatory to get in ! You be stubborn and I'll be persistent xx [sic]"
According to the screenshots, the coworker responds "Hmmm x" and Pemsel says "Can i say I've been quite persistent .. for 3 years ... 🤗", to which the coworker says, "You've also been married for a lot longer than that! Xx"
In the following texts, according to Guido Fawkes' screenshots, she agrees to "discuss it" with Pemsel, but says she is "not going to change my mind." Another message starts with "I'm struggling to understand why," but is cut off by the end of the screenshot.
NoSuchBucket"I suggest we kiss and see what happens," Pemsel says, according to the screenshots, and she replies, "I suggest this is a bad idea."
Pemsel also reportedly asked what would be happening if he wasn't married, and the coworker says, "I don't know but you are so there's no need to explore that."
The screenshots also showed Pemsel saying, "God this is tough going ... you could say 'you're a wildly hot (older man) so it's obvious'," to which she replies, "Haha sorry xx"
Pemsel, who was CEO of The Guardian for more than 8 years before being tapped to lead Premier League, will be replaced at the publication by interim CEO Anna Bateson, Guardian Media Group announced Friday.
NoSuchBucketThe Premier League will continue to be led by its current interim CEO, Richard Masters. In November 2018, longtime Premier League CEO Richard Scudamore stepped down.
The top level of England's football leagues will now need to pick another replacement candidate.
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