FANS have slammed “awful” Jonathan Pearce after the commentator was heard muttering during the French national anthem.
Pearce provided commentary for the BBC at the Women’s World Cup match between France and Morocco on Tuesday.
However, he suffered an embarrassing gaffe prior to kick-off as the French players sang their national anthem.
As the camera panned across the French team, he could be heard muttering away in the background.
He was even picked up on the microphone asking “was I on air there?”
Viewers were quick to spot the blunder as they watched the round of 16 tie.
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One fan tweeted: “Talked over a national anthem, commentated on a replay thinking it was live, sounded disappointed when goals went in, Jonathan Pearce is awful.”
Another added: “Jonathan Pearce gaffe bingo ticked off early today.”
A third viewer also wrote: “Jonathan Pearce is terrible. TERRIBLE.”
Meanwhile, another fumed: “Someone tell Jonathan Pearce it’s disrespectful to speak during a national anthem!”
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Others could see the funny side, though, with one joking: “Quite a unique rendition of the French national anthem featuring Jonathan Pearce.”
It is not the commentator’s first on-air gaffe either, having called Liverpool “champions” on Match of the Day in 2019, over a year before they won the Premier League.
He also referred to the quarter-final clash between Brazil and Belgium at the 2018 World Cup as an FA Cup tie.
Once the action got underway in Adelaide, France raced into a 3-0 lead with a trio of goals in the space of eight first half minutes.
The winner of the final round of 16 match will face co-hosts Australia in the last eight on Saturday.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
