Disney+ has confirmed that a three-minute advert break during a Women's Champions League match was not scheduled. The interruption occurred while Arsenal and HB Koge were tied 0-0 in the second half on Tuesday. Fans criticized the break, labeling it "gimmicky" and claiming it undermined women's football. A dog with 137,000 Instagram followers appeared in the broadcast, which also included other technical issues.
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Disney acknowledged that the interruption was unintended and expressed understanding of the frustration it caused. The company is implementing measures to prevent a recurrence. Arsenal won the match 1-0, with Mariona Caldentey scoring a penalty in stoppage time.
The coverage featured a vegetable platter and a rotating floor, alongside host Alex Scott and analysts including former England forward Lianne Sanderson and content creators Alex Bailess and Tyra Mills. The presence of the dog, named Barley Boy, was primarily due to its social media following, with no further explanation provided.
This season marks the second year that the Women's Champions League is being broadcast on Disney+, with matches produced by ESPN. A new feature, "The Hangout," is aimed at enhancing the match-day experience for fans, offering pre-match and post-match content as well as analysis. Disney described it as combining expert insights with fan engagement.
However, the evening was marred by several technical difficulties, which included players unable to hear interview questions and misaligned camera shots. Audio issues were also experienced during an Inter Milan match covered by Italian reporter Roberto Perrone.
Viewer reactions on social media highlighted concerns about the need for serious coverage of women’s football, contrasting it with men’s football, which often features varied analysis formats. Some fans emphasized that while personality and fun have a place, they should not overshadow the sport itself. Journalist Megan Feringa remarked on the surreal nature of the broadcast, questioning the dog’s presence and the uncoordinated presentation.
Broadcaster Flo Lloyd-Hughes urged for more focused coverage, criticizing the approach as overly gimmicky. Concerns over the professionalism of women's football broadcasts have been raised previously, including backlash against Sky Sports for perceived patronizing content.
Disney+ will continue its coverage with Chelsea facing Austria Wien on Wednesday at 20:00 BST.