The BBC is facing heavy criticism after its live broadcast of the England-France football match yesterday featured a goalless second half.
Just a week after the corporation was attacked for its coverage of the Golden Jubilee flotilla, it is again taking flak for failing to deliver any goals after the 40-minute mark.
Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “The second half was a complete waste of viewers’ time. The least the BBC could have done is spread the goals out a bit – France’s in the first half and England’s in the second, to make it exciting.
“They’ve had several years to plan for this but the best they could manage is two goals in the first half.
“This again shows the arrogance of the BBC – this time for thinking that people will want to watch a live game for 90 minutes when all the action is loaded at the front end.”
BBC sources suggest the next director general will come under intense pressure to outlaw sporting events where long stretches pass without score.
Shadow culture secretary Harriet Harman said: “The build-up to this tournament has been huge but on our opening night all we got from the BBC was 22 footballers on a football pitch playing football.
“Not only that but it was pouring with rain – not at the match in Donetsk but here in England, on the BBC’s own doorstep. It was a disgrace.”
The BBC was also criticised last night for showing all of the Sweden-Azerbaijan game.
Sports minister Hugh Robertson has demanded a full explanation as to why this had happened, given that neither country is in the United Kingdom.
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