Latest news with #punditry
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Why is Rio Ferdinand quitting TNT Sports?
RIO FERDINAND shocked the sporting industry when he announced that he will be QUITTING his punditry role on TNT Sports - and the reason why has been revealed. The Manchester United and England legend is set to hang up his TNT Sports microphone after tonight's thrilling Champions League final between PSG and Inter Milan. 2 And it is set to be a huge loss for the channel as he quickly became one of the most notable faces since joining its predecessor, BT Sport in 2015. Ferdinand, 46, acted as both a pundit and co-commentator for domestic and European football, including Spurs' Europa League final win over his former club, Manchester United. His knowledge and experience of the game has led to him becoming one of the first names many look forward to hearing commentate. But in a lengthy social media post, Ferdinand has revealed why he is quitting TNT Sports. Why is Rio Ferdinand quitting TNT Sports? Rio Ferdinand explained: 'After 10 incredible years. I have made the difficult decision to step away from TNT Sports after the Champions League final. 'Since retiring from football it has been a privilege talking about the game I love for a decade for sports fans watching on BT Sports and TNT Sports. 'I want to acknowledge the tremendous support from the team behind the scenes, whose hard work often goes unseen, but has been essential to our success. 'To everyone at TNT Sports, we have a brilliant end to the season to look forward to on Saturday, and for now all focus will be on what I think could go down as one of the great European finals. 'The network continues to thrive with more rights than ever, and I look forward to following its progress and the exciting future that lies ahead. 'Lastly, I would like to thank my family and my management company New Era for their ongoing support. 'They have supported me to travel all over the Europe following the best players and watching the best matches. For a football fan like me, it's been a dream come true. 'As I turn the page to the next chapter. I carry with me countless memories. 'I'm excited about what the future holds, spending more time with my family, focusing on Rio Ferdinand Presents and my other business interests. 'I hope to stay connected with all of you in different capacities. Thank you once again for everything.' What could Rio Ferdinand be doing next? Despite being incredibly busy with TNT for the last decade, Ferdinand has managed to cultivate a massive podcast. His ' Rio Ferdinand Presents' podcast, which was previously called 'Vibe with Five', has over 1.3 MILLION subscribers on YouTube and thousands of listeners on Apple and Spotify. If not that, although Ferdinand plans to focus on his other interests, an immediate move to one of TNT's rivals isn't off the cards. 2 Sky Sports have just freed up a boatload of cash by culling multiple presenters and reporters in a wave of redundancies. And it could be used to finance a potential swoop for Ferdinand, who would draw huge numbers along with former England team-mates Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher. A move to the BBC could also be on the cards following Gary Lineker 's departure from Match of the Day. Ferdinand could use his downtime to focus on the 'Rio Ferdinand Foundation', which he set up back in 2012 or, the Manchester United could try to become a professional boxer once again. He did this following his retirement in 2015 but was denied a license by the British Boxing Board of Control. Another thing on the cards for Rio is stepping back into the food industry. He entered the restaurant world in 2009, opening Rosso Restaurant & Bar in Manchester's city centre. But Rosso, which was visited by A-listers galore, closed its doors after 15 years of service back in September 2023. Ferdinand could look to revive the defunct restaurant or open a new one.
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Eni Aluko snubbed by ITV after Ian Wright scandal
Eni Aluko has been snubbed by ITV for the Lionesses' first match since she accused Ian Wright of 'blocking' opportunities for female pundits. Aluko will not be part of the broadcaster's coverage for England's game with Portugal on Friday, with Anita Asante and ex-Spain midfielder Vicky Losada having been preferred as pundits. Wright will also not be part of the coverage for the game against Portugal or the subsequent match in Spain next Tuesday, but it is understood that is because he is on holiday. Aluko accused the Arsenal legend of 'blocking opportunities for women' in women's football broadcasting and dominating punditry during an appearance on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour. 'I've worked with Ian a long time and, you know, I think he's a brilliant broadcaster, but I think he's aware of just how much he's doing in the women's game. I think he should be aware of that,' Aluko said. 'The fact of the matter is, as I said, there is a limited amount of spaces available. If we had a situation where there was an equal opportunity in the men's game for broadcasters and coaches that there is in the women's game, it's a free for all. 'But that's not the case. I can't dominate the men's game in the way that, you know, you used Ian as an example.' The former Lionesses player later apologised to Wright, though he said he could not accept her apology. 'I've got to say, I'm very disappointed about what Eni has said, she knows how I've helped her, supported her publicly, and I know the previous conversations she's had with me and my management,' Wright said on Instagram. 'I've seen the apology on social media, but I can't accept it. But I also want to move on.' It is understood ITV regularly rotates its pundits for international games and that is no different for this particular match. It is unclear whether Aluko will be part of ITV's team for the women's Euros taking place in Switzerland this summer. Wright received overwhelming support following Aluko's comments, with several England players liking his post. In the video, Wright also thanked Kayleigh McDonald, the former Stoke City player who told Telegraph Sport how he had been paying for her rehab, which costs £1,700 per month, for an anterior cruciate ligament injury since the start of the year. 'I wouldn't be in a great place mentally if it wasn't for Ian Wright,' McDonald said. 'I would probably still be waiting for my surgery if it wasn't for him. For him to do this for me, someone he didn't know, I think there should be more of a spotlight shone on him.' Aluko's apology to Wright came after she denied 'attacking' him. 'Ian Wright is a brilliant broadcaster and role model whose support for the women's game has been significant,' she wrote on Instagram. 'In my interview with Woman's Hour this week, I was trying to make a broader point about the limited opportunities for women in football – whether that's in coaching, broadcasting or commercial spaces – and the importance of creating more space for women to thrive on and off the pitch. 'But it was wrong for Ian's name to be raised in that conversation, and for that I sincerely apologise. I've known and worked with Ian for many years and have nothing but love and respect for him.'
The Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Eni Aluko snubbed by ITV for Lionesses' first match since Ian Wright row with pundit's future up in air
ENI ALUKO has reportedly been ditched by ITV for England Women's first match since she accused Ian Wright of blocking opportunities for female pundits. The former Lioness star claimed in April that Wright, who works as a pundit on both men's and women's football matches, was blocking work opportunities for female pundits to work on women's football. 2 2 Aluko later apologised to Wright, though the ex-Arsenal ace rejected her apology. And following that exchange, ITV have not selected Aluko for punditry duty as the Lionesses face Portugal in the Nations League on Friday night. The broadcaster has selected Anita Asante and Vicky Losada for punditry duty instead. And according to the Daily Mail, the broadcaster has refused to confirm whether Aluko will be part of their coverage of the Women's European Championships. Insiders claim she may even be facing the axe completely, with one saying the choice to not select her for coverage against Portugal "does not bode well" for her. ITV have been approached for comment.
BreakingNews.ie
7 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Rio Ferdinand announces he is leaving TNT Sports pundit role
Rio Ferdinand has announced he is leaving his role as a pundit with TNT Sports to focus on his business interests. The former Manchester United and England defender has been part of the broadcaster's punditry team for a decade but will stand down after its coverage of Saturday's Champions League final. Advertisement 'Since retiring from football, it has been a privilege talking about the game I love for a decade for sports fans watching BT Sport and TNT Sports,' he said in a statement published on his X account. 'I want to acknowledge the tremendous support from the team behind the scenes, whose hard work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success. 'As I turn the page to the next chapter, I carry with me countless memories. I am excited about what the future holds, spending more time with my family, focusing on Rio Ferdinand Presents and my other business interests. 'I hope to stay connected with you all in different capacities. Thank you once again for everything!' Advertisement Sources close to TNT Sports have told the PA news agency that this is an amicable parting of ways, and that the door is being kept ajar for future opportunities. Ferdinand first announced he was working as part of the BT Sport team in May 2013, with BT rebranding as TNT Sports in the summer of 2023. The 46-year-old has become a regular part of the presenting line-up for the broadcaster's European club football coverage but is now set to spend more time working on his personal content channels. His Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel currently has 1.32 million subscribers. Advertisement Ferdinand will sign off as part of TNT's presentation team for the Champions League final between Paris St Germain and Inter Milan in Munich on Saturday. Earlier this month Ferdinand was forced to miss a number of matches after being hospitalised by what he later described on his YouTube channel as a 'mad virus', admitting at one point he thought it was 'lights out' for him.
New York Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Rio Ferdinand announces TNT Sports departure after 12 years
Rio Ferdinand has announced he will leave UK sports broadcaster TNT Sports following Saturday's Champions League final after 12 years as one of the key faces of its coverage. Ferdinand, 46, has been a pundit for TNT Sports, formerly BT Sport, since 2013 and has featured prominently in TNT Sports' coverage of the Premier League and Champions League. Advertisement He said following his departure he will focus on his podcast, Rio Ferdinand Presents, and his other business ventures. 'I have made the difficult decision to step away from TNT Sports after the Champions League Final,' Ferdinand said in a statement issued on Wednesday. 'Since retiring from football, it has been a privilege talking about the game I love for a decade for sports fans watching on BT Sport and TNT Sports. I want to acknowledge the tremendous support from the team behind the scenes, whose hard work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success. 'To everyone at TNT Sports, we have a brilliant end to the season to look forward to on Saturday and for now all focus will be on what I think could go down as one of the great European finals.' Statement: After ten incredible years, I have made the difficult decision to step away from @tntsports after the Champions League Final…. — Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) May 28, 2025 Ferdinand was still playing for Manchester United at the time of his first punditry appearance for what was then BT Sport in 2013. The former England defender was announced as one of TNT Sports' main pundits upon its rebrand in 2023, alongside Peter Crouch and Joe Cole. Paul Scholes, Robbie Savage, Steve McManaman and Owen Hargreaves also regularly feature in its Premier League and European coverage, while Karen Carney joined the company in September 2024. He was one of TNT's most prominent pundits for their biggest matches, but at times faced criticism from viewers for his perceived partisan coverage of Manchester United matches. Ferdinand made 455 appearances for United during his playing career, winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2008. Ferdinand's exit comes amid the British broadcaster's growing slate of sports coverage. In February 2024, TNT Sports announced it had agreed a four-year deal alongside the BBC to broadcast the FA Cup. It has rights to the majority of European matches in the UK, including Champions League — alongside Amazon Prime — as well as all Europa League and Conference League games with several Women's Champions League games. It also secured rights to 52 Premier League matches in the 2024-25 season. Advertisement TNT also gained broadcasting rights to cycling, tennis, the Olympics and winter sports after integrating with Eurosport in February. 'As I turn the page to the next chapter, carry with me countless memories,' Ferdinand added. 'I am excited about what the future holds, spending more time with my family, focusing on Rio Ferdinand Presents & my other business interests. I hope to stay connected with all of you in different capacities.'
