Yahoo News BBC apologises for writing 'Manchester United are rubbish' on news ticker
Watch: The BBC News ticker displays "Manchester United are rubbish"
The BBC has apologised for broadcasting "Manchester United are rubbish" on its news ticker.
The words appeared at the bottom of the screen on the BBC News Channel on Tuesday, 24 May during a segment about a tennis match.
The broadcaster has now apologised and said it was the work of a trainee who was learning to use the system used to input text for the ticker.
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The BBC, through presenter Annita McVeigh, said: "I hope that Manchester United fans weren't offended by it. What was happening behind the scenes, someone was learning how to use the ticker and to put text on the ticker so they were just writing random things – not in earnest – and that comment appeared."
A statement was also released which said: “There was a technical glitch during training with our test ticker, which rolled over to live programming for a few seconds. We apologised for any offence caused on air.”
The text originally flashed up during a sports segment where the presenters were discussing the ongoing French Open and Cam Norrie's first round win in the tennis tournament.
UPDATE: BBC News have apologised.
They say that a trainee was learning how to write text for the ticker and accidentally published them onto the BBC News Channel. pic.twitter.com/OkjPIkJAoo— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) May 24, 2022
There were many reactions to the gaffe on social media with most joking about Manchester United's poor season where they finished sixth in the Premier League.
One user wrote: "Didn’t really need to apologise for reporting news that is 100% true."
Another joked by saying: "BBC staff member clearly enjoying their last day on the news ticker."
Many also joked that the trainee deserved a pay rise and that even the BBC news ticker was laughing at the club's poor form which has left them without a trophy again.
Others were more sympathetic towards the trainee with one commenting: “Poor trainee must be mortified! Imagine if that’s their first day.”
Manchester United is yet to comment on the incident.
Watch below: Manchester United star Edinson Cavani flips middle finger at fans after final match
