The Sport Thread

[RhysJR]

ITV announce team for coverage of England football internationals. Laura Woods to present and Seb Hutchinson to commentate.
https://www.itv.com/football/articles/la...n-coverage

[thebigdog2020]

ITV announce team for coverage of England football internationals. Laura Woods to present and Seb Hutchinson to commentate.
https://www.itv.com/football/articles/la...n-coverage

According to the press release Emma Hayes, Ian Wright & Eni Aluko will also be involved in coverage. Good team being built there by ITV Sport.

[harshy]

ITV announce team for coverage of England football internationals. Laura Woods to present and Seb Hutchinson to commentate.
https://www.itv.com/football/articles/la...n-coverage

Laura Woods is doing well she’s also the presenter of dazns boxing coverage.

[RhysJR]

UEFA Women's Champions League innaugral group stage draw was conducted this afternoon. A reminder that every match this season and next will be available for free on YouTube by DAZN worldwide.

https://twitter.com/UWCL/status/1437380151881445378

The fixtures have been confirmed as well. Two matches per timeslot at either 17:45 or 20:00 UK on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Every matchday bar the final matchday does not clash with men's European club football as well. Good work by UEFA to try and give the competition as much of a platform as they can.
https://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleag...tures-set/

[thebigdog2020]

Few bits of sports news
https://twitter.com/seemajaswal/status/1...3724331009
Seema Jaswal to join BT Sport for the UEFA Champions League coverage, Jake Humphrey to become main host.

https://twitter.com/Seb_Hutch/status/143...6672498695
Seb Hutchinson to become main Lionesses Commentator for ITV Sport alongside his Sky Sports & BBC Radio 5 Live commitments

[bkman1990]

Did anyone hear about the new WC proposals that were released from FIFA recently?

I've watched a report from Tony O'Donoghue on RTÉ2 this evening about FIFA proposing ideas from Arséne Wenger to hold the WC every 2 years with other competitions like the Confederations Cup & Euros to be held every other year. There will be a guaranteed rest period to be given for players if they agree to play in these new tournaments. There is a consultation due to end on it from FIFA by before Christmas. A formal decision on this proposal won't be made until the FIFA congress is held in May of next year.

I think it is bizarre to have a FIFA WC held every 2 years. They're are probably not recognizing the fact that they have the potential here to create some conflicts in the scheduling of other soccer competitions in countries between clubs & football associations around the world. For me on a personal level; I actually prefer to keep the WC being held every 4 years as per usual. UEFA have made a official statement to say that they will boycott these new proposals from FIFA to have a WC every 2 years. UEFA have from all of their football associations combined have 212 votes in potentially agree or to reject them. South America have 56 votes either to agree or get rid of the proposals.

What do you guys think of these proposals coming from FIFA? Do you think they will be approved?

[Brekkie]

It's something nobody wants, least of all UEFA and the clubs. World Rugby have come out proposing something similar again, with a similar reaction from true fans who know the rarity of a World Cup is what makes them special.

[JAS84]

And if there's a tournament every year, when are they supposed to do the qualifying? The players will end up burned out from lack of rest, as that time will have to used to play the qualifying matches that currently are in the odd numbered summers.

[bkman1990]

It's something nobody wants, least of all UEFA and the clubs. World Rugby have come out proposing something similar again, with a similar action from true fans who know the rarity of a World Cup is what makes them special.

It's the prestige of these competitions is what makes them important to all of the fans. To have a World Cup held every 4 years probably heightens the significance of these events being held in equal time length as the Olympics, Paralympics & Winter Olympics. It's something that's regarded as important to the athletes who can take part in these competitions. They all have an equal chance in taking part in them every 4 years. Having these important tournaments or events held every 2 years just cheapens the status of importance for these athletes who do want to get something meaningful while they take part in them & for fans who wants to see official coverage of them via TV, radio & online or when they have the opportunity to attend them in real time.

Re: Eir Sport 1 in Ireland. I heard this evening that is to officially close down in a few weeks time; on the 28th of October.

[Newshound47]

Did anyone hear about the new WC proposals that were released from FIFA recently?

I've watched a report from Tony O'Donoghue on RTÉ2 this evening about FIFA proposing ideas from Arséne Wenger to hold the WC every 2 years with other competitions like the Confederations Cup & Euros to be held every other year. There will be a guaranteed rest period to be given for players if they agree to play in these new tournaments. There is a consultation due to end on it from FIFA by before Christmas. A formal decision on this proposal won't be made until the FIFA congress is held in May of next year.

I think it is bizarre to have a FIFA WC held every 2 years. They're are probably not recognizing the fact that they have the potential here to create some conflicts in the scheduling of other soccer competitions in countries between clubs & football associations around the world. For me on a personal level; I actually prefer to keep the WC being held every 4 years as per usual. UEFA have made a official statement to say that they will boycott these new proposals from FIFA to have a WC every 2 years. UEFA have from all of their football associations combined have 212 votes in potentially agree or to reject them. South America have 56 votes either to agree or get rid of the proposals.

What do you guys think of these proposals coming from FIFA? Do you think they will be approved?

Most likely they will be approved with the votes of African, Asian and Central American federations.

Be interesting to see if a boycotted cup then does Happen.

[Brekkie]

It's like the expansion to 48 teams. They might get away with it as the Euros did extending to 24, but the group of three format (with 16 groups) means the early stages will be rather one sided, and probably the round of 32 as well. Therefore it's unlikely we'll see any big head to head games in the first 64 fixtures of the tournament, whilst with the current format in theory you get 8 clashes from the top 16 seeds during the group stages.


In terms of broadcasting I doubt the BBC certainly, and probably ITV too, have the budget to pay significantly more across a four year period than they do now and were it go to every 2 years they'd be pressure to remove it from the crown jewels list, partly because it wouldn't be considered so special anymore, but mainly to open it up more broadcasters who could possibly afford it. More money and airtime going to football wouldn't be great for other sports too who struggle to get a look in, and for the womens game which is beginning to get a more desirable level of exposure thanks to the main tournaments alternating with the mens.

[TopOfTheHour]

Thought this might be interesting for some. Spark Sport (SVOD) have taken the New Zealand rights for the UEFA Champions League for the first time.

Previously, they were held by Sky NZ (Satellite/streaming) and the Champions League was shown in partnership with BeIN Sports studio production out of Doha, however Spark have done a deal with BT Sport to take their broadcast coverage.

A few caps attached.

[RhysJR]

BT also have redone their UCL highlights show, rebranding it Champions League Tonight.
https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/stat...8847324166


The studio last night was quite something.
https://twitter.com/NilNapier/status/143...0500368385

[valley]

The studio last night was quite something.
https://twitter.com/NilNapier/status/143...0500368385

There's a few lighting directors I know who have been called the Prince of Darkness at various points in their careers. This must've been lit by one of them!

[gottago]

Both the BBC and ITV were outbid by C4 for the Open final. Interesting that ITV wouldn't have been able to make a return on it (well, there were no ads) so presumably C4 made quite the loss. https://deadline.com/2021/09/itv-ceo-car...234833967/