presenter apologises after Rayan Cherki swears on live post‑match interview
During the live broadcast of Manchester City’s 4‑1 victory over Crystal Palace, French winger Rayan Cherki dropped profanity in a post‑match interview, forcing host Johnny Phillips to issue an on‑air apology. The incident unfolded moments after Cherki’s two‑goal performance, when the presenter asked him to assess his display.
Cherki, who scored the opening goal and added a second in the second half, admitted he was dissatisfied with the first‑half effort. "My performance is so‑so. In the first half, we didn’t find the space, I played s***," he said, before adding that he wants to show his desire to score and distribute the ball more effectively.
Phillips, visibly taken aback, quickly responded, "I apologise for any comments that may have offended anyone watching," before steering the conversation back to the win and upcoming fixtures. He later concluded, "I’m very happy for the win, see you next week. Pep was a big story, we will start another story. We want to prove it and are here for that."
The profanity sparked an immediate outcry on social media, with viewers tagging the broadcast regulator Ofcom and demanding stricter delay mechanisms for live interviews. Some fans defended Cherki’s candidness, while others criticized the lack of a broadcast delay that could have prevented the profanity from reaching the audience.
released a brief statement confirming that the network is reviewing its live‑interview protocols and will cooperate fully with any regulatory inquiry. The broadcaster noted that this is the first time a player’s explicit language has breached its on‑air standards during a Premier League match.
Industry analysts suggest the episode could prompt broader changes across UK sports broadcasting, including the introduction of a short delay for post‑match interviews and more rigorous pre‑interview briefings with players.
The incident adds to a growing list of on‑air slip‑ups that have placed live sports coverage under scrutiny, and has promised to keep viewers updated as the story develops.