‘The Irony! Have a word with your bosses’: Gary Lineker and Jake Humphrey blasted by fans after presenters moan about fixtures being changed… for TV scheduling purposes
- Gary Lineker and Jake Humphrey have been blasted by fans on social media
- The TV presenters both moaned about the congested fixture scheduling
- Premier League clubs still in Europe have only been given a few days’ rest
- However, certain fixtures have been moved to fit in with TV scheduling
- Fans mocked the pair for their ‘lack of awareness’ and ‘ironic’ complaints
TV presenters Gary Lineker and Jake Humphrey have been mocked by fans for questioning the congested schedule for Premier League clubs.
The pair both claimed the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal have fallen victim to illogical organising – but fans were quick to call them hypocrites.
The general consensus is that the top teams’ fixtures have been moved to certain dates for TV scheduling purposes due to the huge money deals in place with their employers BT Sport and Sky.
Gary Lineker and Jake Humphrey have been blasted for moaning about fixtures being moved
Six Premier League clubs are still fighting for glory in Europe across two competitions which has made for an overflowing fixture list.
With games coming thick and fast for every side, Lineker and Humphrey both raised the issue on social media with Liverpool and City both being made to play on Sunday before midweek games – but their concerns did not go down well with fans.
Lineker kicked off the conversation by stating: ‘Crazy that both Liverpool and Manchester City play tomorrow (Sunday).
‘No other sides in Europe that are still in the Champions League would ever play on a Sunday before midweek CL fixtures. The Premier League needs to look after their own.’
Lineker and Humphrey have both complained about Premier League club’s fixtures
Both claimed the congested fixture scheduling was wrong despite them being for TV purposes
Punditry rival Humphrey – who works for BT Sport – agreed with the sentiment, saying: ‘Arsenal also play Monday night and then travel to Naples.
‘You’re right Gary. Completely ridiculous…hamstringing our own clubs in Europe…’
Lineker also suggested that this wouldn’t be happening in other top leagues around Europe.
However, one fan was quick to point out that Bundesliga side Frankfurt, who are in the quarter-final of the Europa League, also faced a similar congested period earlier on in the season.
One user wrote on Twitter: ‘The lack of self-awareness here is incredible (from two broadcasters I really like). How about having a word with your bosses about the schedules.’
Another added: ‘The irony of two people who work for TV companies complaining about kick-off times!’
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also criticised UEFA for the current system in place after his side were given just four days’ rest before facing Barcelona in their quarter-final second leg.
He said: ‘We tried to google to find out why but if you could find out that’d be great.
‘If we were going to Barcelona for a Wednesday game, I definitely wouldn’t have made as many changes for the West Ham game. I think UEFA should change that, it’s a strange system the way they do it at the moment.’