Alex Scott, working in Qatar for the BBC, appears to have been given a dressing down after promoting a clothes brand on her social media channels while on duty for the broadcaster.
The former England footballer, 38, is a brand ambassador for Reiss and posted an image on Instagram of herself working at a game, tagging the company in the shot. Promoting commercial agreements is frowned on by the BBC, who have a policy that bans some staffers on news and current affairs from doing so. A BBC spokesperson said: ‘We have spoken with Alex, who has removed the tag and will not be repeating this.’
Earlier this year, former Breakfast host Dan Walker stopped posting images some believed were promoting brands after he accepted free or discounted goods and shared them on social media.
While the BBC presenter was not believed to have a commercial relationship with the brands, a source disclosed to The Times that he would no longer be accepting gifts from third parties.
BBC World Cup pundit Alex Scott found herself in hot water with her employers while in Qatar
Scott was reprimanded by the BBC for promoting a clothes brand on her social media channels while on duty at the 2022 World Cup
Spurs send out emails inviting fans to see England’s World Cup SEMI-FINAL despite defeat to France
Few could believe Harry Kane missed his penalty — and that certainly appears to have been the case at his club.
With Tottenham fans still trying to get their heads around Saturday night’s skied spot-kick, Spurs sent an email on Sunday inviting subscribers to ‘watch England in the World Cup semi-final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium’.
It went on: ‘With a place in the final at stake, England’s date with destiny awaits. Will Gareth Southgate’s men make it to a first World Cup final since 1966?’
Daniel Levy is a shrewd businessman but this may be a tough sell, even for him. Tottenham say it was a planned email in the event of an England win which was sent out owing to human error.
Spurs’ blunder saw them send out an email promoting England in the World Cup semi-final
FIFA stop all-English TV crew from showing the definitive angle for Japan’s goal against Spain
The all-English crew who directed the Spain v Japan match for TV were stopped by FIFA from showing the definitive angle used by the VAR team to award the winning goal, which sent Germany home from the World Cup.
Kaoru Mitoma’s pull back for Ao Tanaka to bundle home happened just after the ball had appeared to cross the line. Indeed, it was ruled out of play by the assistant referee, only for the goal to be given following a lengthy VAR review.
Agenda can reveal the TV team pleaded four times to be allowed to screen the key image, but each time were denied permission, which may trigger questions in Germany and beyond.
Sources say the TV crew were left stunned, with FIFA eventually showing a clarifying image 24 hours later.
FIFA declined to comment, other than to point out protocol in their tournaments is for VAR output to only be broadcast when referees go pitchside for a review, and those watching on TV can see the images the officials are being shown.
The all-English TV crew screening Japan’s World Cup group stage win over Spain were refused permission to broadcast images showing the controversial goal in the game
Liverpool star Mo Salah signs deal with Gucci
Mo Salah has struck a deal with Gucci which has seen him appear in a slick, three-minute promotional clip.
The film mocks up a press conference in which the 30-year-old Egyptian, clad in Gucci attire and clutching one of their iconic holdalls, is asked questions about his upbringing and life.
At one point the Liverpool forward is asked if his children play football and if they are good at it. ‘Not like me, but yes,’ he responds.
Liverpool and Egypt star Mo Salah has signed a deal with luxury fashion brand Gucci
ITV revel in the fact the blundering BBC are the gift that keep on giving
ITV bosses can reflect that the blundering BBC are the gift that keep on giving following a disastrous World Cup which saw the public service broadcaster screen no England knockout matches.
Agenda understands that it was ITV’s turn to pick first, and they went for the quarter-final. The bullish Beeb then went for the semi-final, with ITV quick to pick up the last-16 tie.
A peak audience of 23million watched England v France on ITV — dwarfing the BBC’s biggest audience across all platforms of 18.7m for the group-stage thrashing of Wales.
It gets worse for the Beeb. After England’s exit, they plumped for France v Morocco, dropping Argentina v Croatia — and the Lionel Messi story — into the lap of ITV execs, who believe it will be more attractive to a British audience.
Gareth Southgate’s new look will never match the waistcoat hype
Gareth Southgate’s waistcoat became a celebrated fashion item at the last World Cup in Russia but it is unlikely there will be a trend-setting repeat by the manager this time.
For reasons known only to sponsors Marks and Spencer, the England manager was forced to wear a dreadful zip-up, white woolly top on match days, which looked as impractical as it did uncomfortable in the desert heat. Do not expect a rush to the High Street.
Gareth Southgate’s zip-up jumper hasn’t matched the hype created around his iconic waistcoat he wore during Euro 2020
The 2026 host cities who came to Qatar made the biggest impression on FIFA
Of all the 2026 host cities who came to Qatar from across North America, Toronto made the biggest impression on FIFA.
Insiders have disclosed that the travelling party were open-minded, asked the most questions and displayed a keen interest in stadium architecture and fan experience — particularly the DJ sets and family vibe outside venues.
The group were keen to engage with Qataris to find out what had worked and what had not, as they look forward to bringing the tournament to Canada.
Everton owner Farhad Moshiri is pictured with leading Qatari businessman
Everton supporters were thrown into a frenzy when owner Farhad Moshiri was snapped with leading Qatari businessman His Excellency Sheik Dr Khalid bin Thani Al Thani at the Netherlands v Argentina quarter-final.
The Merseyside club were seeking investment over the summer as work continues on their new, £500million stadium and fans were quick to speculate that the meeting could have been linked to a takeover.
However, club insiders say Moshiri was purely networking.
Everton supporters were fuming after spotting owner Farhad Moshiri with a leading Qatari businessman
Nike will be delighted with England’s progress despite crashing out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
While the nation ponders what might have been, Nike will be delighted with England’s progress. The US manufacturer signed a 12-year deal extension in 2016, shortly after the Three Lions stank the place out at the Euros in France.
The agreement came into play from 2018, meaning England — who went on to the World Cup semi-finals that year, the Euros final last year and made the quarter-final here — will be sporting the swoosh until 2030.
Southgate has been hailed for his impressive communication skills during the 2022 World Cup
Much has been made during the World Cup of Gareth Southgate’s impressive communication skills.
The England boss, named communicator of the year by PR Week in 2021, was a regular attendee at Roy Hodgson press conferences while coaching the Under 21s and pays close attention to detail.
Southgate’s calm manner was needed again following Saturday night’s heartache and it is easy to see why the FA want him to stay.
Less widely known is that, throughout his time in charge, Southgate has remained close to former FA head of communications Mark Whittle, who was part of the England media set-up from Germany 2006 to France 2016.
Whittle now runs a communications agency with clients including Wayne Rooney and Soccer Aid for UNICEF.
Much has been made of England manager Southgate’s impressive communication skills