Taking on a punditry role for a broadcaster such as the BBC at a World Cup inevitably attracts considerable criticism. So much so, in fact, that former England manager Gareth Southgate has chosen to give it a wide berth entirely.
ITV and the BBC have enabled fans across the United Kingdom to revel in what has proved to be a truly memorable World Cup thus far. Steering supporters through all the action from North America has been an impressive lineup of former footballers and experienced presenters. However, fans can be particularly unforgiving when errors are made or controversial opinions are aired. The BBC has made its position abundantly clear about how it handles criticism and confronts its own mistakes. Yet this has done little to persuade the likes of Southgate to step in front of the cameras.
The backlash BBC pundits face
Supporters rarely hold back when directing criticism towards pundits. At this World Cup, for instance, the BBC enlisted Olivier Giroud as an analyst. The former Chelsea and Arsenal striker featured earlier in the tournament, but viewers were far from impressed when he appeared during Belgium’s clash with Egypt, with many branding him “disastrous.”
Such fierce criticism, which is an all too familiar occurrence when former professionals and broadcasters appear on our screens, is one key reason why ex-England boss Southgate chose to sidestep a TV role at this World Cup.
He shared on Instagram ahead of the tournament: “It’s obviously a very different tournament for me this one, I’ve been at the last seven World Cups as a player, as a broadcaster, a scout and then as the manager.
“So this time I took a conscious decision not to do the TV. I didn’t think it would be helpful for me to be talking about the team and I don’t want anything to be misconstrued or thrown at them at press conferences, so best for me to keep out of the way.”
How does the BBC respond to complaints?
The broadcaster is typically prompt in acknowledging its own shortcomings. Earlier in the tournament, during France’s clash with Senegal, an error with the line-up graphics displayed an image of French defender Dayot Upamecano in place of Arsenal’s William Saliba, while Jules Kounde was incorrectly shown as Ibrahima Konate.
Viewers were furious that the on-screen teamsheet had been presented incorrectly, prompting the BBC to release a statement reading: “We apologise for this mistake.” Yet when it comes to their pundits, the corporation tends to offer its full backing. At the 2014 World Cup, Phil Neville, brother of current ITV pundit Gary, was part of the BBC’s coverage.
During England’s painful loss to Italy at that tournament, Neville faced fierce criticism for his faltering commentary. Nevertheless, the BBC’s head of football at the time stood firmly behind him, establishing a precedent for how the broadcaster has since handled complaints directed their way.
“He had a bad night at the office,” Mark Cole told The Independent. “He was really hurting that night when I spoke to him but he dusted himself down the next morning.”