‘Appalling!’ Lord Sugar sparks outrage after brutal jab at ITV’s World Cup host
Lord Alan Sugar took to social media with complaints (Image: Getty)
Lord Alan Sugar faced backlash from ITV viewers after he took to social media to complain about the live broadcast of France and Spain’s World Cup semi-final. While many were glued to the screen for the tense game, the billionaire businessman aired his frustration on X and instead of agreement, the 79-year-old was branded “insufferable.” During Tuesday’s (July 14) match, Lord Sugar wrote: “Ally McCoist is very well respected for football knowledge. But I am sorry to say I can’t understand a word he is saying.”
This riled up World Cup viewers as fans defended the Scottish commentator, with one responding: “We can’t understand you…apart for the ‘you’re fired’ bit!” As another suggested: “Turn the telly down and put the radio on then if it bothers you that much.” A third added: “How can you not understand? I get every word he says! & I’m not Scottish! He may think the same about your accent!”
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Ally McCoist is one of ITV’s famed pundits (Image: Getty)
While one joked: “Good job I never followed through with my Apprentice appointment otherwise I’d be out episode 1!”
Another football fan agreed with Lord Sugar and remarked: “He’s awful. What football knowledge are you on about? He’s insufferable. He simply describes what we all can see. He adds no more than that. Someone needs to tell him we have eyes and don’t need him to repeat what we can see for ourselves.”
Throughout the World Cup, Ally has provided commentary for ITV alongside the likes of Sam Matterface, Jon Champion, Seb Hutchinson, Joe Speight, Lee Dixon, Andros Townsend and Lucy Ward.
Meanwhile, punditry was provided from the broadcaster’s studios in Brooklyn, New York, by Roy Keane, Ian Wright, Gary Neville, Patrick Vieira, Karen Carney, Ange Postecoglou, Juan Mata, Emma Hayes, Duncan Ferguson, Jobi McAnuff and Bradley Wright-Phillips.
After joining the Ranger Football Club in 1983, Ally became a footballing icon, setting an all-time record with 355 goals in 581 appearances.
Considered as one of Scotland’s greatest ever football players, the 63-year-old earned 61 caps and scored 19 goals for his country throughout his time at the club.
Lord Sugar’s complaint came after ITV viewers threatened to “switch off” the World Cup after Succession actor Brian Cox made a surprise appearance in the studio to provide punditry.
While one fan labelled his appearance “fun and random”, another questioned: “Is there anywhere else I can watch this game?” As another penned: “Why have ITV taken Brian Cox hostage and forced him to talk about football? Ridiculous.”
