England fans call out 'hypocrisy' over football coverage compared to Wimbledon

While plenty of sports fans are pulling all nighters and staying up late to watch the football, their daytimes have now become busier thanks to the tennis.

The Wimbledon Championships served up on Monday (29 June) with the BBC, as usual, providing the coverage here in the UK.

But while the broadcaster is also showing a selection of the World Cup matches, some England fans have called it out for supposed ‘hypocrisy’.

And it’s not got anything to do with its studio used for punditry or ‘errors’ made leading to spoilers but rather a little QR code on the screen.

During some of its coverage of the games, the BBC has included a less than obvious reminder for viewers that they need a TV Licence to be watching it.

Fans have been getting riled up over the TV Licence reminder. (BBC)

A small square with the code has been spotted from the broadcaster, telling viewers: “Buy a TV Licence. Scan the QR code.”

Plus, when it appeared during the Brazil v Morocco match, commentator Guy Mowbray gave a ‘handy reminder that to enjoy the World Cup’ people need a licence.

“So, if yours needs renewing you can scan the code that’s on your screen now to do so,” he said.

And it’s fair to say not everyone was thrilled with this message, slamming it as ‘scraping the barrel’ and ‘mental self-sabotage’.

“Anyone else find it funny that the BBC find it necessary to remind everyone they need a TV licence to watch the World Cup,” one hit out.

Another wrote on X: “Getting a bit sick of you reminding me multiple times during your World Cup coverage that I need a TV licence. Give it a rest!”

While one simply said it was ‘f**king annoying’.

But a new kick-off has started over the message since Wimbledon began as it’s said there’s a disparity in this TV Licence reminder.

Viewers say they haven't noticed it during Wimbledon coverage. (BBC)

One viewer noted on X: “Admittedly I haven’t watched every second, but I haven’t heard the BBC Wimbledon commentators telling viewers they need to have a TV licence.

“Clearly they think the tennis public is a different class to the World Cup football viewers.”

In response to this backlash of the coverage between the two tournaments , A TV Licensing spokesperson told LADbible: “We regularly test new ways of supporting people to get and stay correctly licensed.”

However, some viewers don’t seem to fussed as they joked that: “Kind speech crimbo will be worth a check.”