Disney+ Confirms Ad Break During Arsenal Women's Match Was a Technical Error
The short version
- Disney+ said the three-minute ad break during Arsenal vs HB Koge was an unintended technical fault
- Arsenal won 1-0 on a stoppage-time Mariona Caldentey penalty
- The debut of 'The Hangout' studio show drew fan criticism as gimmicky, with multiple technical problems
- Coverage continues Wednesday when Chelsea host Austria Wien at 20:00 BST
The streaming service says an unplanned three-minute interruption during Arsenal's Champions League opener was caused by a technical fault it is working to fix.
Disney+ has confirmed that a three-minute commercial interruption during Arsenal's Women's Champions League match against HB Koge on Tuesday was accidental, not part of the broadcast plan. The incident occurred while the teams were level at 0-0 in the second half. In a statement to BBC Sport, the company acknowledged the disruption, called it a technical fault, and said steps were being taken to prevent a repeat.
Arsenal went on to win 1-0 in their opening fixture of the campaign, with Mariona Caldentey converting a penalty in stoppage time. It is the second season that the Women's Champions League has aired on Disney+, with matches produced by ESPN. This season introduced 'The Hangout,' a live studio program Disney promoted as a new match-day experience offering pre-match, half-time and post-match content.
The debut broadcast drew criticism from supporters, who described elements of the presentation as gimmicky and argued it undercut the credibility of the women's game. The show, hosted by Alex Scott alongside pundit Lianne Sanderson, creators Alex Bailess and Tyra Mills, and a dog named Barley Boy, also featured a rotating floor and a served vegetable platter. Additional problems included audio sync faults, cushions blocking camera views of Scott, and players unable to hear studio questions during interviews.
Criticism extended beyond London. Italian reporter Roberto Perrone experienced sound issues while covering Inter Milan's meeting with Sweden's Hacken, and when audio resumed, viewers were shown a quiz covering pasta varieties and Italy's largest city. The reaction follows earlier controversies around women's football broadcasting, including concerns last November over the Women's League Cup draw conducted by influencer GK Barry and Sky Sports' decision to drop its female-focused TikTok channel Halo after an online backlash. Disney+ coverage continues Wednesday with Chelsea hosting Austria Wien at 20:00 BST.
