Chris Waddle said to be ‘surprised and devastated’ after being unceremoniously dropped by BBC for Euro final and ‘has quit over perceived slight’
Chris Waddle, BBC 5 Live’s usual go-to pundit for big England games appears to have left the corporation after being unceremoniously dropped for Sunday night’s Euro 2020 final.
Sources have told Sportsmail that the 62-times capped winger was surprised and devastated to be overlooked for the country’s biggest match in more than half a century.
Waddle, 60, was used for England’s semi-final win over Denmark but was then told his services would be dispensed with for Sunday night’s showpiece after 20 years at the microphone, with preference given to Sportsmail columnist Chris Sutton, 48, in a team including former international Karen Carney alongside football correspondent John Murray.
Chris Waddle’s time with the BBC appears to be over after he was dropped on Sunday
Waddle is believed to have quit over the perceived slight.
The Geordie’s sidelining follows the exit of such noted broadcasters as racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght, all-rounder Mark Pougatch and tennis expert Jonathan Overend, who has moved on to a freelance contract, as has 5 Live pioneer John Inverdale.
A figure close to the turbulent events said: ‘Drama at R5L on the eve of the final as Chris Waddle has quit. He felt forced felt to go and feels the latest victim of apparent bias against older middle-aged white man. There is a lot of upset at BBC HQ.’
A BBC-linked source commented: ‘It seems to many of us that it’s very big insult to one of the outstanding pundits of recent years.’
Waddle was understood to be devastated at being overlooked for the Euro 2020 final