Ryan Reynolds and Wrexham: Controversy Over Sky Sports Coverage
The EFL Sky broadcast of the Wrexham vs. Swansea City match on March 13th has sparked controversy, with Swansea City’s chief executive, Tom Gorringe, voicing concerns over what he perceives as biased coverage favouring Wrexham’s Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The alternative commentary, featuring Reynolds and McElhenney alongside regular presenter David Prutton, drew significant attention, but also criticism.
Gorringe believes Swansea were treated as “an afterthought” during the broadcast. In his programme notes before Swansea’s match against Coventry City, he stated, “While I don’t think anyone would dispute that we want to continue to grow the profile of the EFL product, the means by which we do so should be balanced and impartial.” He further elaborated that the build-up to the game and the coverage itself “left a lot to be desired” in terms of balance.
Sky Sports Defends Coverage
Sky Sports declined to comment directly on the criticism. However, sources within the broadcaster, speaking anonymously, maintain that the regular coverage was fair and balanced. They point to the inclusion of former Swansea defender Ashley Williams as a pundit and a pre-match interview with Swansea coach Vitor Matos, alongside Wrexham’s Phil Parkinson, as evidence of this.
Details of the Complaint
Gorringe’s concerns extend beyond the commentary itself. He highlighted that the production of the alternative broadcast, handled by Reynolds and McElhenney’s own production company, heavily featured their team. He also noted the celebratory atmosphere with David Prutton and the fact that the advertisement for the commentary didn’t even mention Swansea’s participation. “It felt to myself and a number of members of our staff that we were very much an afterthought and that our hosts were given priority at every opportunity,” Gorringe added.
He plans to discuss the matter with the English Football League (EFL) next week, urging Sky Sports to employ “greater critical thought” in handling similar situations in the future.
Viewership Numbers
Despite the criticism, Sky Sports reports that ‘Live from Wrexham with Rob & Ryan’ attracted a significant audience, with 40% of in-house viewers (168,000 out of 424,000) tuning into the alternative offering. This demonstrates the considerable draw of Reynolds and McElhenney’s involvement.
Wrexham’s Rise and the Impact of Ownership
Reynolds and McElhenney have overseen a remarkable transformation of Wrexham since taking ownership five years ago, guiding the club from the National League (fifth tier) to the Championship. Their recent 2-0 victory over Swansea further solidified their play-off hopes. The success of Wrexham under their ownership has undoubtedly captured the attention of a wider audience, but this incident raises questions about maintaining impartiality in broadcasting.
This situation highlights the growing influence of celebrity ownership in football and the challenges of balancing entertainment value with fair and balanced media coverage. The EFL will likely face pressure to address these concerns as the league continues to grow in popularity.
Learn more about the impact of celebrity ownership in sports: The Guardian – Celebrity Owners in Football
