Celtic may have bowed out of the Champions League on Tuesday night, but their performance in Munich was anything but a failure. Across the footballing world, respected voices and broadcasters praised the Hoops for their brave and spirited display against Bayern. Yet, while others struck the right chord, the BBC completely misread the moment, posting a tone-deaf and poorly executed graphic that read simply: ‘OUT’.
They did try to caveat at it on the actual tweet saying it was a valiant effort, but having this ready to go feels like they were expecting Bayern to hammer the Scottish champions.
Now, those of us in the football media industry understand how these things work—pre-made graphics are prepared in advance for different outcomes. Given that Celtic were always up against it going into the second leg, their elimination was the most likely scenario. But what makes the BBC’s handling of it so poor is that no one at the national broadcaster thought to adjust the messaging based on the actual performance Celtic had just put in.
Instead of recognising the fact that Celtic went toe-to-toe with Bayern, led for much of the game, and were literally seconds away from extra time, their full-time post felt dismissive—completely out of sync with what had just happened.
A Pattern of Misjudgment
Unfortunately, this wasn’t the only misread moment from the BBC on Tuesday night. Their half-time analysis was another example of how certain sections of the broadcaster struggle to give Celtic credit when it’s due.
After Celtic bossed the first half, showing no fear against the German champions, one BBC reporter Alisdair Lamont delivered this bizarre summary:
“Dare I say it, Bayern were pretty unimpressive in the first half. Vincent Kompany is a cool character, but he’s been prowling the edge of his technical area for most of the first period looking a little anxious about the way the game has gone. Still, his side are in front in the tie and so very close to being ahead on the night with that Harry Kane chance.”
Instead of acknowledging Celtic’s quality, the reporter opted to downplay Bayern’s performance, as if Kompany’s team were simply off the pace rather than being forced into mistakes by a relentless Celtic display. The focus was entirely on Bayern’s struggles, rather than the fact that Celtic were outplaying them.
Why It Matters
While no one is suggesting everyone at the BBC holds contempt for Celtic, there’s a clear pattern of moments like this, where the broadcaster fails to capture the true story of the game. When pundits, former players, and even Bayern themselves were all praising Celtic, the BBC’s flat and uninspired response stood out like a sore thumb.
Celtic’s Champions League campaign ended in heartbreak, but their performances have earned respect across Europe. It’s just a shame that the UK’s national broadcaster still struggles to show them the same level of recognition.
We know the BBC hate Celtic and there history you just have to look at there panels rangers retirement old and new co it a Catholic thing in Scotlsnd especially West of Scotland if you were a Catholic especially Irish history you were black balled from jobs and clubs like the blacks in the American south and it still going on
The same can be said when the BBC uefa CL highlights show, when they started discussing the Bayern v celtic game, Chris Sutton kicked off with his thoughts on the game, he praised correctly celtics brilliant first half, we had at least 3 good chances of a goal, first was our skipper C McGregor, unfortunately his shot was a bit unlike his finishing this season, he skied his shot well wide, Khun had a really good chance but shot straight at their keeper, another good chance went by us.
Then again in the second half we were making Bayern make mistakes, we were well organised and when we got the chance for Khun to score he made sure this shot was going in the net, Maeda had a good chance with a header but it was again straight at their keeper, maybe if it had more fizz from the cross it might have ended differently.
But Sutton gave praise where and when it was due, and was honest that a moment of slackness right at the end of the match, resulted in Bayerns goal.
Then it came to the other 3 to give their opinions, the female presenter Gabby Logan (think that’s her name) she started the slur on celtics display, yes they said we did alright and for a Scottish club we got a record fee for how and where we finished, but that’s where any sort of praise ended, she along with the other 2 said what was said by other BBC media outlets, Bayern were not at their best, if they had been then it would’ve been a different outcome as it would’ve been a much bigger scoreline.
They didn’t say that what celtic did made Bayern play like they did, celtics constant pressing and hitting on the break was hurting Bayern, and they only got through without the need of an extra 30 mins, because of an unlucky deflection right at the end of the second half.
No real praise for the efforts of all the celtics players, especially so as it was in Bayern own backyard, which made celtics efforts all the more praiseworthy, not because Bayern were having an off day, or just didn’t turn up, they turned up alright as Kasper pulled off some really impressive saves to keep the score zero zero till celtic scored that great goal, good pressing from Maeda won the ball where he passed it to Khun, and poor defensive move let Khun through on goal, this time he wasn’t going to miss.
Funny how media outlets from across Europe praise the impressive display from the celtic team, they tackled this match differently from that at celtic park, where we left pressing Bayern until the last 20 mins.
We pressed them from the first to last whistles, we set up defensively when we needed to, which showed by keeping the scores level at 0 v 0, then when we gad that chance to press and hurry them, we got that well deserved goal and our one goal lead, it was heading to extra time when a cruel blow was handed out, but we well worth the good media reports, but only from outside the UK.
Sky commenter Kris Boyd said live that “i was so happy when Bayern scored right at the death” i mean these folks on media duty have supposed to be impartial, to not show any favour to one team, but his hatred of all things celtic spilled out after Bayern scored, he then quickly backtracked to try and praise celtic for their really good show in Europe this season, but the harm was done with that petty and hugely spiteful remark right at the start of his take on the game.
How Sky can keep him in their employment is hard to fathom, he continually shows his hatred for celtic every time Sky covers celtics games, especially so if celtic face his boyhood club sevco, his snide remarks against everything celtic does, his hatred boils over with his wild snd angry outbursts on the sky commentary team, yet he’s never pulled up for it.
I believe that if it was anyone else showing their hatred for another team, either in or out of Scotland, but because it is celtic and we play in Scotland, his shocking behaviour goes unpunished..it shouldn’t be that way.