BBC WOMAN WHO MADE HISTORY
She’s first to commentate on live TV match – but opinion is divided
SPORTS reporter Vicki Sparks made British television history yesterday as she became the first woman to commentate live on a World Cup game.
She was the lead voice of BBC1’s live coverage of Portugal v Morocco from Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.
But while the experienced broadcaster was praised for her performance by many, not everyone appeared impressed by her tone on the microphone. First in the line of detractors appeared to be former Chelsea and England captain John Terry.
He uploaded a picture on Instagram showing his television with the match on and told his followers: ‘ Having to watch this game with no volume.’
The former defender later claimed this was referring to the fact his TV was broken. Miss Sparks was in commentary box 269 with former Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown as an expert summariser.
The late David Coleman’s famous catchphrase after an opening goal was always: ‘One nil.’
But Miss Sparks had her own style as the prolific Cristiano Ronaldo headed Portugal into a fourth- minute lead, saying: ‘Wouldn’t you just know it.’
After it proved to be the only goal of the game, thousands expressed their opinions on Miss Sparks and her World Cup debut. BBC Football Focus and Breakfast TV presenter Dan Walker was supportive, tweeting: ‘Well played Vicki Sparks. A little bit of history made.’
Another social media user said: ‘Was very refreshing to hear a female commentator in football!
‘Excellent job by Vicki Sparks! Brilliant insight and had genuine enthusiasm for what she was doing! Get her on more.’
But others were more critical. Many pointed out she had repeatedly and accidentally referred to Portugal’s national team as ‘Porto’, a club in the country’s top flight.
A Twitter user wrote: ‘Shouldn’t have taken this long for there to be a female world cup commentator but listening to Vicki Sparks drone on I wish it’d taken longer.’
Miss Sparks has worked for the BBC in the North East, on the corporation’s Saturday Final Score show and on Radio 5 Live.
Earlier in the tournament, she provided highlights commentary for Iran’s win over Morocco. While Miss Sparks is the only female commentator at the World Cup for British TV , the BBC and ITV have a string of women pundits at Russia 2018. Jacqui Oatley, who became the first woman to commentate on Match of the Day in 2007, is working for ITV.
The commercial broadcaster also has England and Juventus striker Eni Aluko while the BBC is using Gabby Logan as a reporter with retired Arsenal Ladies defender Alex Scott in the studio. Last year Miss Sparks was on the receiving end of a controversial comment from David Moyes, then Sunderland manager. After an interview, he told her: ‘It was getting a wee bit naughty at the end there so just watch yourself. You still might get a slap even though you’re a woman. Careful the next time you come in.’Moyes apologised but was fined £30,000 by the FA.
FOURTEEN months after David Moyes threatened Vicki Sparks with a slap, she slapped down that old notion that the women folk of football’s village must not lead any of the discussions.
In much the same way that this World Cup has fleshed out a theory that all Russians aren’t chemical weapon-carrying hooligans on performance- enhancing drugs, Sparks yesterday proved the complexities of football commentary are not beyond the capabilities of half the population.
Of course, to look at Twitter throughout much of PortugalMorocco would be to assume she had hocked the trophy at Cash 4 Gold, or neutered the spirit of Pickles the dog.
What transpired is that a woman led the commentary of a World Cup match for the first time, anywhere. And — process this — she did it well. She wasn’t exceptional and to suggest she was would be a little like the clapping Patrice Evra gave Eni Aluko on ITV.
But she was solid, good, no more and certainly no less, sitting in next to Martin Keown and bringing the ball out while he put in the heavy tackles. On Pepe’s late dive, the ex-Arsenal centre back went with ‘pathetic’; the younger team-mate opted for a more subtle ‘oh dear’.
That was generally her approach — the gentler touch, safe between the margins. In time the natural progression will see Sparks express herself more, not necessarily the full Jonathan Pearce, but more out of the comfort zone. But as for opening performances, it was solid, not a foot wrong.
When Cristiano Ronaldo scored, she was quick with a stat that no European had scored more international goals. When Nordin Amrabat threw off his scrum cap, she was across the details of his apparent concussion. She had done her homework and presented it accurately to the wise old masters of social media. And how that enlightened bunch responded.
‘Dogs are the only living entities that are enjoying the commentary of Vicki Sparks today. Shrieking wench,’ wrote @NostroFoz.
And @funkapotomus: ‘All for equal opportunities but you ladies don’t half pick your worst. Hilary Clinton, Theresa May and now Vicki Sparks.’
For his part, John Terry posted a picture of his TV on Instagram, with the caption: ‘Having to watch this game with no volume.’ He later claimed he had a technical fault.
In any case, while some criticised the shrieks, @WafcSean noted how it was ‘incredibly grating how everything she says has the EXACT same monotone’.
Sometimes, you cannot win. But it can’t be denied this was a victory, just as it was in 2007 when Jacqui Oatley became the first woman to commentate on Match
of the Day and the days last week when Alex Scott and Aluko were pundits for the BBC and ITV.
It is likely Sparks will become more prominent, due to the logic that the BBC would not have used her for a game featuring Ronaldo unless they felt she had a talent worth investing in.
Listening to a woman commentate on the World Cup feels like a change because it is a change. It is different, and different doesn’t mean worse. It’s not the familiarity of John Motson or Pearce, but then, loads of folk loathe them. Not everyone will be loved like Barry Davies, or talk themselves into the lexicon like Kenneth Wolstenholme, and nor should that be the entry standard.
The entry standard is competence at the level. If Sparks proves that she has it, then it shouldn’t be much of a slap-in-the-face surprise to the chaps of Twitter if change, God forbid, should take hold.