The BBC has come under fire for their World Cup 2026 coverage, with fans criticising one pundit's display in particular. Football supporters have pulled no punches in their reaction to Olivier Giroud after his appearance as a pundit at World Cup 2026. Some are even demanding the BBC drop the French international striker from upcoming broadcasts, but the corporation has demonstrated a readiness to stand by embattled pundits even when faced with intense backlash.
BBC's History of Supporting Pundits
A prime example surrounds the contributions made by Phil Neville during the 2014 World Cup. The Beeb backed Neville, whose brother Gary continues to be a mainstay on Sky Sports and elsewhere, retaining him as part of their Match of the Day line-up for the 2014/15 campaign. Neville's struggles on commentary during England's World Cup loss to Italy sparked doubts about his long-term prospects. However, Mark Cole, the BBC's head of football at the time, stuck by the former Manchester United and Everton player and revealed details of their discussions.
"He had a bad night at the office," Cole told The Independent. "He was really hurting that night when I spoke to him, but he dusted himself down the next morning."
Neville, who hung up his boots in 2013, would subsequently step away from punditry to pursue coaching. He oversaw the England women's side for three years before venturing across the Atlantic for spells with Inter Miami and Portland Timbers. The 49-year-old departed Portland in May following two-and-a-half years at the helm. "Ultimately, we have not seen the progress we've needed to, and, most importantly, results have fallen well short of expectations," general manager Ned Grabavoy said.
Fan Reaction to Giroud
As for Giroud's punditry work, supporters watching him in the studio for Belgium vs Egypt were far from impressed. "Whoever it was at the BBC that thought that Olivier Giroud could be a pundit has made a disastrous decision," one viewer said, while others urged the BBC to prioritise different pundits for upcoming fixtures.
Giroud, 39, hung up his boots at international level following Euro 2024 but extended his club career. He signed for Lille in 2025 and has been playing alongside one of the 2026 World Cup's emerging talents, Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. "He's the one who amazes me the most on a daily basis, even if there are other good young players," the striker told Media Carre in September when discussing Bouaddi. "The maturity he has, the thinking... Me, at 17, I was in the U19 national league, I was light years away from that."
"I call him my little one, but he is already a big boy, very mature, with extraordinary values. I really wish him a great career because he is a beautiful person in addition to being a top player."
