Football Focus pundit Martin Keown mounted a passionate defence of the programme and its host Alex Scott following sharp criticism from Simon Jordan. The BBC has confirmed this will be the final season with the Saturday lunchtime show on our screens, more than 50 years after it first aired. The decision has not been without its detractors, with former host Bob Wilson among those to question the move. England international centre-back Keown has been a familiar face as a guest – both during Scott’s tenure as presenter and under those who came before her – and has made his feelings clear when it comes to his colleague.
Shifting viewing habits have been put forward as a key factor behind the change and Scott is set to remain a prominent figure within the BBC’s sports broadcasting. However, talkSPORT pundit and former Crystal Palace owner Jordan took aim at the former England women’s international, questioning her “charisma and insights”. This prompted Keown to give a passionate defence as the pair locked horns. “That’s unfair… the programme’s not going because of Alex Scott,” Keown said. He told Jordan he believed the show had been evolving in response to changing circumstances, whether that be differing levels of behind-the-scenes access or the pressure of competing with live football, urging Jordan to adopt a more “respectful” approach.
“Criticising somebody and being able to stand up the criticism is not the same as having to show respect,” Jordan argued. “You show people respect if they’re worthy of it.
“I don’t particularly think that a show went in a direction for a number of years, whoever was in situ (as presenter), that was becoming of the way that people want to consume content.
“It wasn’t forthright. It didn’t have a great deal of insight about it. There was a lot of discovery. It was very low level, very soft.
“It isn’t the football focus I grew up watching and and it wasn’t when I watched Mark Lawrenson or when I watched other people that are on there or whether I watched even Dan Walker who I’m not particularly a big fan of.”
Jordan’s comments came after Keown had earlier put forward his own theory as to why Football Focus had failed to endure. “Live football now at 12:30 maybe is affecting the audiences,” he said.
“Alex Scott doing an exceptional job. I don’t think it reflects on her. I think it’s just changing moods. Digital now looks as if it’s going to be the way forward, but I think it was groundbreaking in what it did.”
BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski confirmed Scott will be going nowhere despite Football Focus coming to an end. The 41-year-old will be part of the broadcasting team for the men’s World Cup this summer and the women’s equivalent in 2027 and will retain her role within the presenting line-up for Sports Personality of the Year.
Addressing the subject of Football Focus directly, Kay-Jelski said: “Football Focus has been a hugely important programme in the history of BBC Sport, and has played a key role in telling the stories of the game for generations of viewers. This decision was made before last week’s wider BBC savings announcement, reflecting the continued shift in how audiences engage with football and our commitment to evolving how we deliver content to reach fans wherever they are.”
