Presenter Gary Lineker said the BBC’s television coverage of the FA Cup clash between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool had been sabotaged after loud pornographic noises were heard during the build-up to Tuesday’s match.
Lineker was discussing the third-round replay in a studio at Molineux alongside pundits Paul Ince and Danny Murphy when audible wailing broke out in the background.
Former Tottenham Hotspur star Lineker was clearly startled and struggled not to laugh as he said: “Would you stop making those noises, Danny.”
When the sexually charged sounds continued after an interview with Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp was aired, Lineker cut to colleague and fellow former England striker Alan Shearer in the commentary gantry.
“Somebody’s sending something on someone’s phone, I think. I don’t know whether you heard it at home,” Lineker said.
Once the match started, Lineker revealed the cause, posting a picture of a mobile phone and three laughing emojis on Twitter alongside the words: “Well, we found this taped to the back of the set. As sabotage goes it was quite amusing.”
During the halftime analysis, Lineker took the opportunity to make further light of the incident.
Talking to Ince and Murphy, he said of Liverpool’s opening goal: “Harvey Elliott’s goal was a screamer ... which was not the only one we’ve had tonight.”
The BBC appeared to be less amused, and issued a statement saying: “We apologize to any viewers offended during the live coverage of the football this evening.”
A self-ascribed YouTube prankster, who calls himself “Jarvo,” wrote on Twitter that he was behind the stunt, and posted a video showing him calling the phone to activate the sounds.
Jarvo, whose real name is Daniel Jarvis, was in October last year banned from all sporting events in England and Wales for two years after running onto the pitch during a cricket test match between England and India in September 2021 and barging into England batter Jonny Bairstow.
Additional reporting by AP
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
For some, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the essential spearhead for Portugal’s FIFA World Cup bid, while others believe his presence would prevent Roberto Martinez’s strong side from flourishing. The debate around the five-time Ballon d’Or winner rages on, as it did at UEFA Euro 2024 and four years ago in Qatar — yet Ronaldo endures, ready to play in a record sixth World Cup. The 41-year-old remains a global superstar despite swapping the European elite for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, and is the leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 strikes. With 25 of those coming in 30 games under Martinez, the coach
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
Taiwanese sprinter Chen Yi-cen on Friday won the silver medal in the women’s 400m final at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, with a time of 53.16 seconds. Chen, 15, was the youngest among the eight finalists, and her performance also met the qualifying standard of 53.50 seconds for the Nagoya Asian Games in Japan in September and October. Chen first made her mark at the National Games in Tainan in 2023, at the age of 13, winning the women’s 400m final in 55.55 seconds to become the youngest gold medalist in the history of the event. Meanwhile,
RSS