More stories

  • in

    Red Bull driver Sergio Perez jokes about Sky Sports boycott during awkward on stage interview in Las Vegas

    RED BULL driver Sergio Perez poked fun at his team’s Sky Sports boycott during an awkward interview in Las Vegas.Perez lined up alongside Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell as F1 launched the new American race which will arrive on the calendar in 2023.
    Sergio Perez joked with Russell and Crofty about Red Bull’s Sky boycottCredit: Rex

    Crofty shut Russell down, but then checked with Perez that he could ask him questions
    The event was presented by Sky race commentator David “Crofty” Croft who was tasked with asking the drivers relatively light-hearted questions.
    But it came just days after news that Red Bull were boycotting Sky interviews, with world champion Max Verstappen refusing to appear on their cameras after reporter Ted Kravitz implied he “robbed” Lewis Hamilton of last year’s title.
    Crofty’s fellow Sky colleague Martin Brundle slammed Red Bull’s decision to stop giving the broadcaster any air time.
    And Perez does not seem to think the boycott is a particularly serious issue as he laughed off the situation during his on-stage interview.
    READ MORE F1 NEWS
    Russell jokingly asked Crofty: “Sorry, are you allowed to ask Red Bull drivers questions?”
    To which Crofty responded: “I am tonight, yep. I’ve got special permission tonight. Don’t start on me.”
    He then asked Perez: “Are you allowed to answer?”
    To which the Mexican driver replied: “Yes… while they’re not here!”
    Most read in Motorsport
    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
    Brundle defended Kravitz on social media after the spat between Sky Sports and Red Bull continued to rage following the Mexico Grand Prix.
    He said: “For the avoidance of doubt my friend and colleague for the past 26 years Ted Kravitz has my full support.
    “Face to face dialogue is the only way to sort out issues and disputes in the relentless crucible of the F1 paddock.
    “We all have opinions and different jobs to do, that’s life.”
    Brundle’s comment comes after Verstappen posted his own message online.
    It read: “At the moment, social media is a very toxic place. 
    Read More on The Sun
    “And if you are constantly being like that, live on TV, you make it only worse instead of trying to make it better in the world.
    “You keep being… You keep disrespecting me, and one point I’m not tolerating it any more, so that’s why I decided to stop answering.”
    Verstappen recently boycotted Sky interviews after feeling he had been disrespectedCredit: Getty More

  • in

    ‘Embarrassing’ – Fans fume as Sky Sports coverage freezes then commentary cuts out during Southampton vs Newcastle

    SKY SPORTS viewers were left fuming after match coverage of the game between Southampton and Newcastle cut out. The coverage of the Magpies’ 4-1 win saw commentary lost for the final couple of minutes of the first half just after the picture froze.
    Gareth Southgate had a better time than viewers at homeCredit: Reuters
    And viewers took to Twitter to vent their frustration as the match cut off from their screens.
    One user said: “Why is Sky Sports complete turd today as well, sound keeps dipping out, screen blanks etc.”
    A second viewer said: “@SkySports sky, sports amateur hour when it comes the coverage.”
    A third simply added: “Embarrassing @SkySports.”
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    Another fan said: “Sky sports wtf is going on 😭😭”
    “Anyone sky sports gone weirdly?” queried another.
    According to Sky’s website, a Sports package for existing customers will set them back an extra £25 a month.
    Meanwhile, new customers will need to pay £46 a month to get the sports package in with other perks such as Sky TV.
    Most read in Football
    HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
    Newcastle went in at half-time in the lead thanks to Miguel Almiron.
    And in the second they turned up the heat to blitz Southampton and run out 4-1 victors. More

  • in

    ‘How does it feel to be blanked?’ – Gary Neville mocked by Sky Sports pals over Cristiano Ronaldo snub at Man Utd

    GARY NEVILLE was mocked by Micah Richards and Roy Keane while being quizzed about his hilarious Cristiano Ronaldo snub.The Portuguese superstar, 37, appeared to ignore Neville when he came over to speak to Louis Saha during Sky Sports’ live coverage of the Red Devils’ 1-0 win over West Ham on Sunday.
    Richards mocked Neville for the Ronaldo blankingCredit: TWITTER / @MICAHRICHARDS
    Neville seemed to find it odd that Ronaldo had watched his criticism of himCredit: TWITTER / @MICAHRICHARDS
    Ronaldo snubbed Neville during Sky’s coverage of the United game on SundayCredit: Daily Mail
    The ex-England right-back was the subject of much ridicule on social media following the incident.
    And his fellow Sky pundit Richards has now piled in on Neville with a clip posted to Twitter on Monday morning.
    Heading into a lift alongside Keane, Richards filmed Neville and asked him: “How does it feel to be blanked?”
    Keane then added: “It must feel good to be blanked though because…”
    READ MORE MAN UTD NEWS
    Neville then interrupted, responding: “Do you know something, though? It means he’s watched… yeah.”
    Richards then pressed Neville by asking: “Do you think it’s a bit petty, Gary?”
    The United legend – keen to not start a war of words with Ronaldo – replied: “No, erm, I think if I had 570 million followers on Instagram I wouldn’t be a**ed about Gary Neville.”
    To which Richards said: “He’s your ex-teammate though, come on.”
    Most read in Football
    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
    But Neville shut down that link, responding: “Yeah, but he doesn’t behave like someone who’s played with me. Or him [Keane] for that matter.”
    The camera then cut to a smiling Keane, with Richards finishing the clip by saying: “Honestly, he won’t say a bad word about Ronaldo.”
    Ronaldo’s blanking of Neville came after he was embroiled in a heated argument with Keane last weekend over Ronaldo’s recent contributions.
    Neville was critical of the striker’s strop in the previous game against Spurs as Keane put up a fierce defence.
    And he found Ronaldo’s snub towards him somewhat entertaining, saying on air: “We’re off the Christmas card list.”
    Read More on The Sun
    Neville’s Sky colleague Jamie Carragher, who was ignored by Ronaldo earlier in the season, then took to social media.
    He tweeted: “Welcome to the blanked by Ronaldo club @GNev2.”
    Carragher was given the cold shoulder by Ronaldo back in August, when he gatecrashed Sky Sports’ pitchside coverage of United vs Liverpool ahead of kick-off.
    He embraced former team-mate Neville before deliberately avoiding Carragher to hug and speak with Roy Keane, whom he also played with at Old Trafford.
    Cristiano Ronaldo blanked Jamie Carragher ahead of Man Utd’s clash with Liverpool
    Neville and Ronaldo were teammates for several years at Man UtdCredit: Getty More

  • in

    Fans all say same thing as Sky Sports pundits for Man Utd vs West Ham clash bizarrely wear identical shoes

    YOU don’t know what you are shoeing!Fans were stunned to see Sky Sports pundits all toeing the same line with identical footwear at Manchester United’s 1-0 win over West Ham.
    Viewers put the boot in when they saw the matching footwearCredit: Twitter
    Host David Jones found sole mates in Louis Saha, Jamie Redknapp and Gary Neville.
    They each wore comfy-looking casual blue trainers with a white rim.
    And one armchair viewer posted: “What the hell is going on with the footwear on Sky Sports??? All the same shoes!!!”
    Another asked: “Where do pundits buy their pundit shoes?”
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    A stunned follower of footwear fashion wrote: “I never knew Sky Sports had their own brand of shoes.”
    But one observer expressed relief: “You all got the message about the shoes then.”
    It remains a mystery whether the shoe love-in resulted from the pundits all having the same trainer thought or was just a freaky coincidence.
    Something of a shoedunit, in fact.
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
    But viewers rated it a load of cobblers.
    As Sky’s experts analysed the game, fans assessed their feet – and decided the matching trainers were toe-curlingly embarrassing.
    One said: “Why are they doing it? Get a grip, boys.”
    Another posted: “Pundit shoes out in force tonight.£
    And one wondered: “Has a Sky Sports commentators shoe sponsorship deal been announced that we’ve missed?”
    So there was a clear message to the pundits… Do a shoe-turn and wear what you like. More

  • in

    Max Verstappen ‘boycotting Sky Sports’ during Mexico GP over reporter’s claims he ‘robbed’ F1 title from Lewis Hamilton

    MAX VERSTAPPEN is reportedly boycotting interviews with Sky Sports at the Mexico Grand Prix.The Red Bull ace refused to appear on Sky cameras after reporter Ted Kravitz implied he “robbed” Lewis Hamilton of the F1 title last year.
    Max Verstappen will reportedly snub Sky Sports interviews this weekendCredit: Getty
    Sky reported Ted Kravitz suggested Verstappen “robbed” Lewis Hamilton of last year’s titleCredit: sky sports
    None of the UK-based Sky Sports, or its German and Italian affiliates will be able to interview Verstappen, according to RacingNews365.com.
    Dutch driver Verstappen, 25, won a maiden world title in controversial circumstances last year after overtaking Brit hero Hamilton on the final lap of the last race of the 2021 season.
    He passed Hamilton after former race director Michael Masi incorrectly allowed five cars to unlap themselves after a late safety car.
    Verstappen then won last weekend’s US GP in Texas after passing Hamilton late on to take the lead.
    Read More In F1
    And speaking after the race, Sky reporter Kravitz claimed Hamilton had been “robbed” of an eighth title last year.
    He said: “[Hamilton] doesn’t win a race all year, and then finally comes back at a track where he could win the first race all year, battling the same guy who won the race he was robbed in the previous year, and manages to finish ahead of him.”
    Kravitz added: “What a script and a story that would have been. But that’s not the way the script turned out today, was it?
    “Because the guy that beat him after being robbed actually overtook him, because he’s got a quicker car, because of engineering and Formula 1 and design, and pretty much because of [Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s Chief Technical Officer] over there.”
    Most read in Motorsport
    JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
    His comments have resulted in Verstappen snubbing Sky this weekend.
    Kravitz also suggested Verstappen can’t win titles in a “normal way” last week.
    Verstappen was crowned world champ for a second consecutive year earlier this month in bizarre circumstances when Charles Leclerc was given a time penalty after the Japanese GP had finished.
    Kravitz said: “Verstappen is around the [Austin] paddock, he seems very happy with himself.
    “He doesn’t seem to be a driver capable of winning a championship in a normal way.”
    Read More on The Sun
    The Red Bull ace is on pole for this evening’s Mexico GP.
    Hamilton will start second, with team-mate George Russell in third, and hometown hero Sergio Perez fourth on the grid. More

  • in

    Sky Sports and BT to transform Premier League TV coverage with radical new real-time player stats coming THIS SEASON

    SKY SPORTS and BT Sport are set to revolutionise Premier League match coverage with real-time stats in the second half of the season.The Prem broadcasters will be able to offer live data on each player’s running speed, shot velocity and positioning in under a second during games.
    Sky Sports and BT Sport are set to revolutionise Premier League coverageCredit: Genius Sports – Second Spectrum
    The new system will be available from the second half of the Premier League seasonCredit: Genius Sports – Second Spectrum
    The football broadcasters will be sharing real-time player stats during Premier League gamesCredit: Rex
    In addition, key metrics like the speed of individual player runs, movement off the ball and the power of shots and crosses will be available for the first time.
    According to the Mail, technology firm Genius Sports has developed a new system of player tracking that delivers immediate player stats.
    Live games are broadcast with an eight-second delay so tracking will enable data to be presented in real time.
    The Premier League and Genius reached a deal earlier this week and the new technology will be rolled out during the second half of the season.
    Read More on Football
    The English top flight’s new partner will also provide all Prem clubs with enhanced data during games, which will help as an additional coaching aid.
    Genius Sports’ CEO Mark Locke said: “This partnership is an important next step in demonstrating the way data and advanced technology can amplify storytelling and fan engagement.
    “Genius has believed deeply in this vision for many years, which is now becoming a reality in partnership with Football DataCo and the Premier League.
    “We’re incredibly excited to work on solutions to enhance how the most popular league in world soccer is consumed by millions of passionate fans worldwide.”
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
    Genius Sports are also understood to be working on an even more sophisticated system.
    That is called “mesh tracking”, which records thousands of contact points all over each player’s skin. More

  • in

    Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness victim of road rage as driver calls Liverpool legend ‘an idiot’ during confrontation

    GRAEME SOUNESS has revealed he was labelled an “idiot” in a road rage bust-up.The Liverpool legend and TalkSport star insists he was the victim as he travelled to the station’s London studio.
    Ex-Liverpool, Rangers and Scotland hero Graeme Souness says he was the innocent victim in a car park ‘confrontation’Credit: Getty
    And he added that he would have stayed cooler if he hadn’t forgotten to take his blood pressure tablets.
    The Sky Sports pundit, who is said to be considering quitting that role at the end of the season, admits he hates the roads in the capital but blamed a driver going the wrong way round a car park 
    The former Scotland captain, 69, had a triple heart bypass when he was diagnosed with coronary heart disease aged 38.
    He then had a stent fitted ten years later after another artery became blocked.
    And in 2015 he suffered a heart attack at his home.
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    But the temper he believed has mellowed over the years – helped by blood pressure medication – rose when driving to the talkSPORT studios.
    The ex-Rangers hero said: “I find London very difficult with the traffic when I drive here.
    “I am in the car park and a minute and a half later I’ve got someone calling me an idiot.
    “I was doing nothing wrong this time. 
    Most read in Football
    FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
    “He was in the wrong, going the wrong way in a car park so there was a confrontation early in the morning.
    “I need to take more of my pills to keep the blood pressure down. I normally take one of my blood pressure tablets before coming on air.”
    Souness was on his way to his regular Monday morning slot on the Jim White and Simon Jordan talkSPORT show. More

  • in

    Hollywood star Brad Pitt awkwardly snubs Sky Sports presenter Martin Brundle during US Grand Prix grid walk

    HOLLYWOOD star Brad Pitt awkwardly snubbed Martin Brundle as the pundit did his traditional grid walk before the US Grand Prix.The Sky Sports pundit often talks to drivers and celebrities ahead of the races as the TV coverage builds towards lights-out.
    Brad Pitt did his best to avoid Martin Brundle during the pundit’s legendary grid walkCredit: https://twitter.com/scobie/status/1584287457272422400
    The F1 pundit – who also drove in the sport in the 80s and 90s – attempts to find the biggest names on the grid to talk toCredit: https://twitter.com/scobie/status/1584287457272422400
    The famous actor did not appear to be in the mood to answer any questionsCredit: https://twitter.com/scobie/status/1584287457272422400

    The pre-race grid walk was axed when Covid was raging across Europe but returned last year to the delight of fans.
    But Brad Pitt appeared to not be in the mood to chat as he ignored Brundle’s attempts to start conversation.
    Pitt – who is staring in a F1-themed movie – rebuffed the pundit’s questions before turning around and giving a brief answer after Brundle asks about the film.
    He said he cannot give any information about it yet as it was “top secret.”
    READ MORE IN F1
    When Brundle then tries to ask him about his enjoyment of F1, the famous actor palms him off with a dismissive “thank you, man.”
    The awkward encounter was similar to Brundle’s last trip to Austin when he memorably clashed with the security detail around American rapper Megan Thee Stallion.
    His iconic grid walk also saw him make a hilarious blunder as he mixed up his American sport stars during a trip to the inaugural Miami Grand Prix earlier this year.
    Fans were left unhappy with Pitt’s attitude.
    Most read in Motorsport
    FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
    One wrote on Twitter: “Brad Pitt, you’re doing a movie on F1 and don’t know who Martin Brundle is? It’s *the* grid walk. Stop and talk to him.”
    Another said: “Not sure I understand the logic of Brad Pitt not wanting to spend just a moment to talk to Martin Brundle during the grid walk.
    “I mean, this is his moment to connect with those F1 fans that would see his F1 movie.”
    Unlike Pitt, music star Ed Sheeran did stop to have a chat with Brundle.
    The grid walk preceded an action-packed Texas race as Lewis Hamilton came within six laps of his first win of the season.
    But he was pipped in the closing stages by his old title rival Max Verstappen who had to fight his way back to the front after a botched pit stop.
    Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel continued to end his F1 career on a high as he briefly lead the race until a dodgy pit stop of his own.
    The German fan favourite then had to fight his way back into the points – and pulled off a brilliant last lap overtake on the Haas of Kevin Magnussen.
    The race also had two safety car periods with one being triggered after a dramatic crash between Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. More