Ad break in Women's Champions League was unscheduled

A three-minute advert break during a Women's Champions League game was not scheduled, Disney+ confirmed.

Arsenal and HB Koge were drawing 0-0 in the second half on Tuesday when coverage was interrupted.

It was one of several technical issues during the coverage, which fans said was "gimmicky" and "undermines" women's football. One guest was a dog with 137,000 Instagram followers.

Disney confirmed it was an unintended interruption caused by a technical issue and understood the frustration caused. It was making steps to ensure it did not happen again.

Arsenal won 1-0 in their first game of this season's competition thanks to a stoppage-time Mariona Caldentey penalty.

Disney's coverage also featured a vegetable platter being served and a rotating floor.

Alex Scott hosted the first show of the season, alongside former England forward Lianne Sanderson, content creators Alex Bailess and Tyra Mills, and a dog called Barley Boy.

There was no explanation for his presence on set other than his Instagram following.

It was the second season of the Women's Champions League to be broadcast on Disney+. Matches are produced by ESPN.

New this season is "The Hangout", described by Disney as a live studio show billed as a "new match-day experience for fans, delivering pre-match build-up, half-time analysis and post-match reaction".

In a media release before the first round of fixtures, Disney said: "The Hangout will combine expert analysis with fresh perspectives and fan engagement."

However, the evening was marred by a series of technical issues – from players waiting to be interviewed but unable to hear questions from the studio, to a rotating floor that appeared to have a mind of its own.

There were also camera shots with cushions blocking the view of Scott, and audio synchronisation problems.

Italian reporter Roberto Perrone, in Milan for Inter Milan's match against Swedish side Hacken, also encountered audio problems.

When the sound returned, viewers were shown a non-football-themed quiz, with questions ranging from types of pasta to Italy's biggest city.

One fan wrote on X: "I think a lot of the problem with the debates in women's football broadcasting over analysis and punditry vs content creation and gimmicky fun, is that in men's football you can get both - and in different shows.

"In women's football, you get one show, and so they try to do it all."

Another fan wrote: "We want women's football to be taken seriously, yet coverage like this undermines that. Personality and fun have their place, but not at the expense of the football.

"The game doesn't need gimmicks to make it interesting. Give the players, the competition and the football itself the same focus, analysis and respect we expect elsewhere in the sport.

"Women's football is more than capable of being the main event."

Megan Feringa, a journalist for the Athletic, said: "Watching Disney's coverage is like going in and out of a lucid dream.

"Why is there a dog? Why is the couch spinning? Why do the adverts cut right into analysis?"

Flo Lloyd-Hughes, a broadcaster and writer for the Cutback, said: "Why does women's football coverage always have to be so gimmicky? It's the Champions League, not Blue Peter.

"Put some pundits who know about the teams in a studio, make sure the tech works and have a decent bit of time for build-up and analysis to contextualise everything."

Last November concerns were raised over the professionalism and legitimacy of the Women's League Cup quarter-final and semi-final draw, which was conducted by social media influencer GK Barry.

In the same month Sky Sports scrapped its new female-focused TikTok channel, Halo, after it faced a backlash online, with its posts described as "patronising" and "sexist".

Disney+ coverage continues on Wednesday with Chelsea hosting Austria Wien at 20:00 BST.

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