BBC face another Qatar World Cup backlash after Beeb snubs pre-final closing ceremony | Football | Sport

The BBC are being criticised online, with fans unhappy BBC One isn’t showing the World Cup final closing ceremony. Supporters are able to watch it using the red button. However, that hasn’t stopped fans from venting their fury online.

Ahead of Argentina’s crunch clash with France, the BBC have sparked anger by refusing to show the closing ceremony on channel one.

It can be accessed via the red button and on iPlayer but, still, that hasn’t stopped fans from moaning that they’re unable to watch the action unfold prior to kick off.

Twitter user @LDNLove said: “Oh look.. BBC not showing the closing ceremony. What a crock of s***.”

Another, named @Shellzz92, said: “Are BBC seriously not showing the closing ceremony? Disgraceful.”

User @Yahyanassar24 stated: “Well done to ITV for showing the closing ceremony. Shame on you BBC. I always watch the World Cup Final on BBC because of no adverts, not this year.”

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“BBC are actually a joke. Not airing the closing ceremony either. They’ll hate to admit this has been the best World Cup ever!” were the words of @SAhmed_3.

User @Osowxvyy ranted by saying: “BBC are a joke as usual. How are they not showing the closing ceremony?”

“I hope now that the BBC have decided not to show the closing ceremony again that they keep this energy in every country they go to hosting a competition,” said @theboxsurfer.

And @SunilSharmaUK said: “To clarify the ceremony started at 1.55pm. ITV decided to show the whole ceremony with brilliant performers, colours, actors, singers, dancers & more. BBC decided to show 4 men talking.”

It was a similar story with the opening ceremony, too.

And Gary Lineker was forced into clarifying matters before the final, saying: “As is customary on BBC One for major football finals we’re going to concentrate on the action.

“But if you would prefer and like to watch the closing ceremony it will be live iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the red button.”

Lineker had previously hit back at Piers Morgan after the opening ceremony was snubbed on television.

Morgan has said: “Outrageously disrespectful to Qatar that the BBC didn’t broadcast the World Cup opening ceremony, and instead put out more virtue-signalling guff about how awful it is.

“If they’re that appalled, they should bring home their vast army of employees & spare us this absurd hypocrisy.”

And Lineker hit back by saying: “Not true. It was shown live in its entirety on BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and red button.

“The timing of the opening ceremony was changed to an earlier time very recently and WSL was already confirmed on BBC One. If you wanted to watch it, you could.”

A BBC spokesperson also said: “Full build up and coverage of the World Cup has been available across the BBC, including the opening ceremony on iPlayer.”