Entertainment
BBC hit with more than 6000 complaints over footage of Christian Eriksen’s collapse
The BBC has been hit with 6417 complaints after it showed footage of footballer Christian Eriksen collapsing during a football match.
The broadcaster was airing the Euros 2020 match between Denmark and Finland, when Danish star Eriksen collapsed on the pitch after suffering a cardiac arrest. The 29-year-old has since been recovering in hospital.
Cameras remained on the footballer as he received CPR, and his partner and teammates, who were crying, were also filmed.
At the time, viewers criticised the BBC for not cutting away from the heartbreaking footage, with the broadcaster now responding to the thousands of complaints it received.
‘Everyone at the BBC is hoping Christian Eriksen makes a full recovery,’ the response reads.
‘We apologise to anyone who was upset by the images broadcast. In stadium coverage is controlled by UEFA as the host broadcaster, and as soon as the match was suspended, we took our coverage off air as quickly as possible.’
Shortly after the incident, UEFA announced the Group B game was suspended due to a ‘medical emergency’.
It was later confirmed that Eriksen’s condition was stable in hospital and the game was able to resume.
On social media, viewers took aim at the BBC for not cutting away sooner, with pundit Ian Wright even saying: ‘Cut to the studio ffs!’
At the time, Gary Lineker wrote: ‘In 25 years of doing this job, that was the most difficult, distressing and emotional broadcast I’ve ever been involved with. Thanks to @cesc4official @AlexScott @MicahRichards for your professionalism, warmth and empathy. Get well soon, Christian Eriksen.’
He also apologised for the footage, writing: ‘We will be back on air at 7.25 on @bbcone. I understand some of you would have been upset with some of the images shown (we were too).
‘Obviously these were the host pictures and out of our control. They should have stayed on a wide of the stadium. Apologies.’
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