Rachel Yankey has branded David Moyes’ comments to reporter Vicki Sparks as ‘unacceptable’ irrespective of the fact she is a female journalist.
During an off-air exchange following the BBC reporter's post-match interview with the Sunderland boss, Moyes said to Sparks: "It was getting a wee bit naughty at the end there so just watch yourself. You still might get a slap, even though you're a woman."
He then added: "Careful the next time you come in."
Yankey, who has represented England Women on 129 occasions, has welcomed the fact Moyes made a personal apology to Ms Sparks and says the Football Association and Sunderland must now be left to deal with the matter.
"Having seen it - it was a flippant remark," Yankey told Tuesday's Sportswomen show on Sky Sports News HQ.
"Should he have said it? No, he shouldn't have but the fact that he has gone and apologised and personally phoned [Ms Sparks] I think is a positive thing.
"I think there is a problem whether he says it to a female reporter or a male reporter.
"It's not appropriate to say really. It does come across as threatening, although when you do watch it both are having a little bit of banter with each other and laughing and joking, but for me it's still not acceptable whoever he said it to.
"The fact that he has apologised is pleasing.
"The FA obviously want to look into it and make sure that no other managers [say something like that in future] and [will want to] set this as precedent [to ensure] that people can't be speaking like that."
Ex-England U21 boss Stuart Pearce suspects Moyes' comments stem from the pressure he is under with Sunderland languishing at the bottom of the Premier League table, adding the 53-year-old's remarks were somewhat ill-advised.
He told Tuesday's Premier League Daily on Sky Sports News HQ: "As a manager you are permanently under pressure. When you are bottom of the Premier League you're working under pressure as well and every word you say gets picked up on.
"But David has tried to make a joke, I think, and it has backfired dramatically on him.
"The FA are looking into it at this moment in time and they are going to act accordingly. He's apologised and rightly so for his improper choice of words.
"Knowing David, he has probably meant it in jest but it's not come across that way."
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