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Richard Keys has taken a swipe at Football Focus after it emerged the BBC show’s ratings are plummeting.
Football Focus, which has been a standalone show in 2001, first aired as part of Grandstand in 1974, making it one of the UK’s longest-running programmes. However, sinking audience figures have reportedly led to crisis talks at the BBC.
According to the Daily Mail, the show has lost a third of its August audience over the last four years, falling from 849,000 in 2019 to just 564,000 last month. However, halting its decline in popularity is said to be a priority for the BBC’s next director of sport, with current boss Barbara Slater retiring next year.
READ MORE: Football Focus could be axed by worried BBC after losing one third of audience
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Following the news, beIN Sports presenter Keys couldn’t resist a dig, posting on X (formerly Twitter): “If no-one is watching Football Focus & that appears to be the case why are there ‘fears’ that it will be dropped? Who exactly is fearful? It’s a long way past it’s sell-by date.”
However, with the disgraced former Sky Sports football anchor now working for the Qatar-based beIN, some fans were quick to say the same about Keys. One said: “Some may say the same thing about you Richard.”
Is Richard Keys right about Football Focus? Tell us in the comments section below
Another quipped: “Pots and kettles spring to mind.” A third added: “Oh Richard, the irony of that last sentence.” A fourth joked: “Imagine Richard Keys calling something past its sell by date.”
Another responder blasted: "So are you and Andy Gray but you’re still on air." A sixth said: "That's not the only thing, ‘past its sell by date’ is it!"
Football Focus will celebrate its Golden anniversary in 2024 when it will have been on the air for 50 years. While the show is not under immediate threat of being axed, the landmark could trigger a major revamp.
It is currently hosted by former England women’s international Alex Scott, who took over from Dan Walker in 2021. She is reportedly not being blamed for the programme’s struggles. Scott is highly thought of at the BBC and will have a major presenting role at next year’s Olympics in Paris.
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