Kieran Trippier did an interview with Sky Sports minutes after leaving the pitch. [Image via: Newcastle United]
Sky Sports conducted a Kieran Trippier interview during Sunday’s Newcastle vs West Ham game, shortly after the fullback had finished playing at St James’ Park for the final time.. It was a terrible idea, awfully executed. At one point, the coverage even cut away from the pitch in order to show the conversation across the full screen.
Having been given a rousing reception as he exited the Toon turf, the broadcaster dragged the fullback for a pitchside chat. All whilst the game was ongoing and in the balance. West Ham were 3-1 down at the time, but a Hammers goal would have made for a grandstand finish. The action was end-to-end.
Unsurprisingly, Trippier’s answers revealed nothing. What was a player going to say on TV in-game? Worse than that, it disturbed an exciting part of a crucial game.
Sky Sports Showed Kieran Trippier Interview Instead of Game
There is no Newcastle fan who wanted to hear from Trippier at that point. No neutral interested in the game because of its consequences for the relegation battle wanted to be distracted from the football. There is no way the player wanted to do it. Ultimately, I have absolutely no idea who Sky thought they were helping by introducing such interviews.
We are in an age of increasing media access. There is ref cam, which gives fans insight into what happens on the pitch. There are increasingly cameras in the tunnels. But the coverage that really matters is of the action on the pitch. Things like this Kieran Trippier interview are to the detriment of that.
Thrusting a mic into the face of players who would to celebrate winning a trophy is bad enough. Doing this mid-game, as with the Kieran Trippier interview, is unacceptable.
About the Author
