Mr Barton, from Widnes, Cheshire, later posted an image of her face and Ms Aluko’s superimposed on to a photo of the Wests.
Ms Ward, who played women’s football for Leeds United and later became their head of education and welfare before her current 20-year broadcasting career, told the court: “I just thought this is going to explode in a really negative way.
“I’m in the public eye, I’m always at games and the insinuation with two people who tortured, sexually abused and killed children is not somebody you want to be compared with.”
Simon Csoka KC, defending, said: “So far as being able to offer your own expertise on the men’s game, you can only do that if you were in the men’s game?”
Ms Ward said: “Not necessarily. Football is football.
“You don’t have to have done it if you know what you are talking about.”
Mr Csoka said: “There is a vast difference between the men’s and women’s game.”
Ms Ward said, to laughter in the court: “Yes, the women win things.”
Mr Csoka said: “You understand what would be meant by the expression ‘he or she is murdering the commentary’?”
Ms Ward said: “Yes, it’s not very pleasant.”
Mr Csoka said: “But you understood what was being said?”
“Yes,” replied Ms Ward.
