BT SPORT suffered a major Twitter backlash for their coverage of Inter Milan’s clash with AC Milan.
The two Italian sides came face-to-face in the first-leg of the Champions League semi-final at the San Siro.
GettyFans blasted BT Sport for their major own goal in the coverage of the Milan derby[/caption]
Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s early strikes stunned AC Milan and sealed Inter a 2-0 advantage ahead of next week’s return match.
BT Sport have been highly praised for their broadcasts of the Italian top-flight this term with James Richardson and James Horncastle leading the show.
But the channel opted against using their Italian football experts this evening to go with their usual Premier League crew as pundits tonight.
And the inclusion of Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard plus the choice of Steve McManaman, who screamed out “bloody hell” after an explosion in the crowd, on commentary frustrated viewers.
Journalist Colin Millar started the debate by tweeting: “BT Sport cover every Serie A match with specialist commentators, pundits, presenters.
“Ignoring all that to end up with this standard of coverage for one of the biggest games of the season is desperately selling viewers short.
“Their coverage of the Champions League is generally atrocious. Absolutely miles off the standard it should be and comfortably the biggest underperformer of football TV coverage in the UK.”
And it seemed many echoed his sentiments, with another tweeting: “BT Sport have fantastic Serie A commentators as well James Horncastle and James Richardson who specialise in Italian football.
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“So why pay for 7 clueless numpties to have a Jolly for Inter V AC Milan Champions League semi final.”
Another wrote: “More shoddy UEFA Champions League coverage from BT Sport tonight. A wasted opportunity… James Richardson & Co. are 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆.”
A fellow viewer said: “Champions League coverage on BT Sport is absolutely shocking.”
Another said: “BT Sport are so weird, their Serie A and National League coverage is great, but Premier League and Champions League is f***ing horrendous!”
“Someone needs to take Champions League coverage off BT Sport, they’re making a mockery out of this competition,” blasted another.
While a fellow fan said: “Absolutely nothing unites football fans quite like their dislike for BT Sport Champions League coverage.”