Fans tear into TNT Sports’ FA Cup objectives present and label it ‘absolute rubbish’ after broadcaster confronted enormous criticism over Ashes protection
Football fans have criticised TNT Sports over their coverage of the FA Cup, taking to social media to brand the broadcaster’s Goals Show programme ‘absolute garbage’.
With multiple games kicking off at the same time in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, the TNT Goals Show gave supporters an opportunity to follow all matches at the same time.
Although TNT’s Champions League Goal Show, a programme with a similar format for European football’s top competition, has proved popular among fans, the same unfortunately cannot be said for the broadcaster’s FA Cup version.
Taking to X after watching the TNT Goals Show, which on Saturday saw presenter Matt Smith joined by pundits Fara Williams, Steve McManaman and Kevin Nolan, a large group of football supporters did not hold back in their criticisms.
One fan said: ‘TNT’s Goals Show is possibly the worst football-adjacent show I’ve ever seen.
‘Not a clue what the pundits are talking about as I’m yet to hear one not talk over another.
Football fans have criticised TNT Sports over their coverage of the FA Cup, taking to social media to brand the broadcaster’s Goals Show programme ‘absolute garbage’
Manchester United
V
Manchester City
*18+, excludes NI. Terms and conditions apply
Supporters accused the pundits of continually shouting over one another, ruining the coverage
‘Why is everything that TNT Sports produces on the sports side complete garbage?’
‘This TNT FA Cup goals show is awful, just pundits no one cares about shouting over each other,’ a second added.
A third wrote: ‘TNT, this Goals Show should at least be the same as the Champions League Show, let us watch a game and go to the games all over – not sat watching these four drone on.
‘This TNT Goals Show is absolute garbage,’ a fourth chimed in and said.
Another added, referring to criticism the broadcaster was given for its coverage of England’s Ashes cricket tour in Australia, wrote: ‘Would like to know how many times on TNT Goals Show the “guests” have talked over one another? After the scandalous Ashes coverage of the cricket, TNT are doing their best to be shambolic.’
TNT Sports were heavily criticised for their coverage of the Ashes, which finished on Thursday with Australia winning the series 4-1.
After weathering several complaints over punditry, sound issues and a lack of synchronisation between pictures and audio, TNT Sports’ coverage reached a new low during the fifth Test when a commentator mistakenly reacted live to a replay of a run-out, wrongly telling viewers that Ben Stokes had lost his wicket.
The incident, which was branded the ‘worst commentary ever heard’, did not go down well with viewers on social media.
It comes after TNT Sports were heavily criticised for their coverage of the Ashes in Australia
In February 2024, it was announced that TNT Sports had agreed a new four-year deal with the FA to show live games from the competition’s first round through to the final at Wembley, with some being free-to-air in the UK.
Saturday’s FA Cup third round action will go down in history for producing the greatest shock ever in the competition so far, after FA Cup holders Crystal Palace were dumped out following a 2-1 defeat against non-league minnows Macclesfield.
The giant-killing was one of two matches being shown for free on TNT Sports this weekend, with Aston Villa’s clash with Tottenham on Saturday being the other.
