The BBC has had a difficult start to the World Cup, apologising for an "embarrassing" graphic error while deciding to stick with under-fire pundit Olivier Giroud.
Graphic Error Before France vs Senegal
A glaring mistake occurred before France's victory over Senegal when a graphic intended to show the faces of France's starting line-up used incorrect images for two defenders. Jules Kounde's name was paired with a picture of Ibrahima Konate, while Dayot Upamecano's image was used twice—once correctly and once in place of William Saliba. Social media users branded the error "embarrassing," prompting a BBC spokesperson to say: "We apologise for this mistake."
Criticism of Punditry and BBC's Stance
Viewers have also complained about pundit Olivier Giroud, calling him "disastrous," "absolutely abysmal," and accusing him of putting viewers "to sleep." Despite calls for his removal, the BBC is likely to keep him, following its treatment of other criticised pundits. For instance, Phil Neville was retained for Match of the Day after a poor co-commentary performance during the 2014 World Cup. Mark Cole, then BBC head of football, said Neville "had a bad night at the office" but bounced back.
BBC's Coverage Base Compared to ITV
The BBC has faced scrutiny for basing most of its World Cup coverage at its Salford headquarters, while ITV set up a studio in Brooklyn with a Manhattan skyline backdrop. ITV has also faced criticism over a segment featuring women's football manager Emma Hayes, which some claimed made her look like she was broadcasting from a kitchen.
