‘F*** off… f***ing prick… f*** you’: Sky Sports broke Ofcom rules on swearing twice during their cricket coverage this summer… but they are cleared over David Gower using the f-word
- Sky Sports breached Ofcom’s rules on swearing during their cricket coverage
- First breach came when a player swore during the Ashes Test at Headingley
- Second breach occurred during a T20 blast match played on September 4
- Sky Sports have been cleared over David Gower swearing during last Ashes Test
Sky Sports breached Ofcom’s broadcasting rules on swearing during their cricket coverage this summer, but have been cleared over David Gower using the f-word in his final Test.
Following an investigation, the broadcast watchdog explained that the first breach came during the Ashes Test at Headingley, when a player who had been bowled out was heard shouting ‘f*** off…f***ing prick…f*** you’ as he walked off the pitch.
The second breach was in a T20 Blast match on 4 September when a player shouted ‘f***’.
Sky Sports have been cleared over David Gower swearing during the final Ashes Test
Then, in the final Ashes Test, 62-year-old Gower was overheard saying ‘they haven’t got a f***ing clue’. Ofcom said complaints were made about all three incidents.
In its defence, Sky said it ‘fully acknowledged the seriousness of such strong language being broadcast before the watershed’ but that swearing in its live coverage was ‘extremely rare’.
Shane Warne apologised for Gower’s language immediately but no apology was given for the other swear words, which were picked up by an on-board camera microphone and a stumps microphone respectively.
Sky Sports breached Ofcom’s broadcasting rules on swearing during their cricket coverage
Gower is said to have thought his microphone had been muted when he made the remark, and Sky blamed the incident on an ‘error by the Sky production team on the day’.
As a result, presenters have been reminded about not swearing and all sports directors have been reminded about the importance of immediate apologies.
On the swearing at Headingley, Sky argued that it would have been clear to viewers that the player was angry with himself and the language was not directed at the bowler, though Ofcom countered that it was ambiguous and it was said in an ‘aggressive manner’.
They said: ‘In our view, the majority of viewers at these times would have been unlikely to have expected to hear the most offensive language.’
Sky have since decided not to use on-board camera microphones live when in close proximity to a player, which they told Ofcom was a ‘clear indicator’ of how seriously they had taken the incident.
An Ofcom spokesperson said: ‘Our investigation found that these programmes broke our rules on offensive language. While we took into account that the language had been broadcast in error, in both broadcasts the most offensive language was used and no apology was given on air.’
It is understood that there will be no further sanctions but the breaches will be recorded on Sky’s record.