BBC faces 103 complaints over Match of the Day coverage
The BBC has received 103 formal complaints following Match of the Day’s coverage of Sunderland’s triumph against Crystal Palace earlier this month, reports BritPanorama. The newly promoted side secured a 2-1 victory over the visitors at the Stadium of Light on January 17, but viewers took issue with how the programme handled its post-match analysis.
According to the BBC’s fortnightly complaints report, the broadcast was accused of being “poor/biased against Sunderland”. The complaints centre on the editorial decision to bypass analysis of the Black Cats’ win in favour of discussing matters at Selhurst Park.
During the broadcast, presenter Mark Chapman handed over to senior pundit Alan Shearer following player and manager interviews. The former Newcastle striker, with Wayne Rooney laughing beside him, made clear his frustration with the programme’s direction. Shearer stated: “Just to be clear, I had good analysis on Sunderland. But by our editor’s orders I’ve been overruled and we have to talk about Glasner.”
Chapman responded with a quip about Shearer doing “a 15 minute special on iPlayer.” The pundit reiterated: “We have to talk about Crystal Palace, just to be clear.” The panel then spent two minutes discussing Glasner’s circumstances before moving to the Leeds versus Fulham fixture, without examining Sunderland’s performance. The BBC has yet to issue any public response regarding the complaints.
The controversy arose in the aftermath of Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner’s explosive post-match interview, during which he launched a scathing critique of the club’s hierarchy. The Austrian coach expressed feeling “abandoned” by the board following the sale of captain Marc Guehi. It was this outburst that editors deemed worthy of airtime over a tactical breakdown of how Sunderland overcame the reigning FA Cup champions.
Shearer later addressed the incident on The Rest is Football podcast, presented by former Match of the Day host Gary Lineker. Co-host Micah Richards summarized, saying: “So then, Al comes out and says, ‘Oh, I had some fantastic analysis for Sunderland. Oh, it was going to be absolutely amazing, but we’ve got to talk about the big news, and that was Glasner’.” Shearer explained further about his experience leading up to the broadcast and the late offer for analysis, highlighting the complexities behind the scenes.
Ultimately, the situation underscores an ongoing challenge for sports broadcasters: balancing compelling storytelling with delivering comprehensive coverage. In the ever-evolving landscape of football journalism, moments like these provide a reminder of how narratives can shift, leaving loyal fanbases yearning for recognition in the midst of broader controversies.
