BBC viewers watching England's Group L World Cup match against Ghana on Tuesday were quick to complain about iPlayer buffering issues and a celebrity interview with rapper Stormzy. The match, which ended in a 0-0 draw, was the second group stage fixture for both nations at the tournament in the USA.
Buffering Issues Plague Viewers
Numerous fans took to social media to express frustration with the BBC iPlayer service. One viewer posted on X: "England v Ghana on BBC iPlayer is buffering like crazy. It's not just iPlayer, games buffer on ITVX too. Happens on the big fixtures, obvs." Another said: "@BBCiPlayer not fit for purpose. Give me @itvx every time." A third shared a screenshot of the app failing to load, writing: "@BBC what's going on."
Stormzy Interview Draws Criticism
The pre-match interview with British rapper Stormzy also sparked backlash. One viewer commented: "Dear BBC Sport. Football. Fans. Don't. Care. About. Celebrities. At. The. World. Cup. Stop it." Another added: "@BBCSport wasting licence payers cash yet again with a pointless interview with #Stormzy! Pathetic and nothing to do with football!"
Mixed Reactions to Coverage
Further complaints followed, with one viewer calling the coverage "poor" and another saying it had been "beyond woeful." However, some praised the BBC's presentation, particularly lead anchors Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates. One viewer said: "BBC coverage soo much better. Great female presenters with Gabby and Kelly. Miles better than ITV." Another agreed: "Yeah the female presenters are excellent."
Previous Disruptions
The complaints come after a series of disruptions to the BBC's World Cup coverage. On Monday, Gabby Logan delivered a political announcement during a live broadcast, and coverage was taken off air due to a delay in the France vs Iraq match. FIFA later issued a statement about a "severe thunderstorm approaching" the stadium in Philadelphia.
Match Details
The England vs Ghana match was the second competitive meeting between the two sides, following a 1-1 draw at Wembley in March 2011. Gabby Logan presented coverage from the Salford studio alongside Joe Hart, Wayne Rooney, and Micah Richards, with commentary by Guy Mowbray and Alan Shearer.
