Massive Backlash Over ABC’s Coverage Of Sydney FC Vs. Liverpool
'Footballs were actually crying'
Photo: ABC2
The ABC is copping a backlash over its "cringey" TV coverage of Sydney FC's friendly with English Premier League giants Liverpool.
Twitter lit up on Wednesday night at this "failed" attempt at comedy with ABC2 anchor Aaron Chen interviewing crowd members during half time. Watch the video below.
The segment featured skits and a tacky whiteboard with cutouts of players in formation instead of graphics.
More criticism came at halftime when the trio crossed live to a pitchside reporter/comedian who asked a fan to name his favourite "possession", before snatching back the microphone and exclaiming "I've been possessed with the spirit of football".
Viewers variously described the overall coverage as an "embarrassment", "cringey" and "just about the worst sports coverage ever", while one lamented that "footballs were actually crying".
Some said it was disrespectful to treat a match with a world-class team as a joke.
"All the years of superb W-League TV coverage & everything else the ABC does well disrespected by those three presenters tonight #livsyd," one tweeted.
Some viewers did see the funny side with one UK sports site declaring it the "best coverage ever".
Former Socceroo Robbie Slater took to Twitter to voice his anger at the coverage:
Host Jules Schilller responded: