Gabby Logan taken aback as Mark Chapman won’t work for BBC at World Cup final | Football | Sport
Gabby Logan was left gobsmacked after hearing Mark Chapman won’t be on duty for the BBC at this evening’s World Cup final. The pair have featured throughout the tournament for the Beeb, which has primarily focused its efforts from its Salford-based studio.
It was a decision that drew mixed reviews, with some criticising the move, while others recognised it was an appropriate cost-cutting method. By contrast, competitors ITV have turned heads with their swanky New York-based studio which they have broadcast from throughout the five-week tournament.
As part of the broadcasting deal for the World Cup, both the BBC and ITV will provide coverage for the showpiece event, which is taking place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey later today. The BBC have sent their lead team out Stateside for the final, but one noticeable omission is that of Chapman.
That’s because his BBC commitments have him tied up in Southport, covering The Open from Royal Birkdale. Logan and Chapman covered it on an edition of The Sports Agents podcast, with the former asking: “Are you already kind of working out where you’re going to watch the World Cup final? Because you’re working on it, aren’t you?”
Chapman replied: “No, I’m not. No, I’m not.. no, I’ll be at the golf.” Before adding: “I’m doing The Open golf that weekend, and then I will drive back from The Open golf listening to Kelly and the build-up on the radio and then I’ll catch some of you on the telly.”
Logan continued, saying: “You’re going to be at the golf? My gosh. That could be an extraordinary day, couldn’t it? I think they might change their tee-off times if England are in a World Cup final.”
Chapman, who was speaking earlier in the group stage, replied: “They could bring it forward a bit. Normally, it finishes between 6pm and 7pm. I would imagine if England or Scotland are in the final, they may want it to finish between 5pm and 6pm.”
While the BBC did change their studio location for the final two rounds of fixtures, sport director Alex Kay-Jelski did come out and defend the decision to remain at home. Speaking last month, he said: “To have what would probably be an extra couple of hundred people out there – and that’s before you build a studio – you’re talking millions. The actual end product people are getting at home, I don’t really think it’s that different.”
