FA Seeks ITV Talks After TV Error

ITV is facing a showdown with The Football Association after live coverage of the FA Cup fourth-round replay between Everton and Liverpool was interrupted meaning that viewers missed the crucial and only goal of the game.

ITV’s live coverage of the game, which had gone into extra time after remaining goalless throughout the normal 90 minutes, was unexpectedly interrupted for an unscheduled advertising break.

When live coverage returned, the millions of viewers who had tuned in to the game saw Everton celebrating a goal but had missed the incident live.

Steve Ryder, who was presenting ITV’s programme, was forced to apologise twice, citing ‘technical faults’ towards the end of the dramatic game, in which Everton teenager Dan Gosling claimed the winner.

An ITV spokesman said: ‘We experienced some technical problems towards the end of the game which meant that we cut away at the time of the goal. We immediately replayed the goal and Steve Ryder apologised. This would appear to be a network transmission problem. We apologise to viewers for the interruption to the game.’

ITV also failed to show the game’s other pivotal moment, the dismissal of Liverpool midfielder Lucas for two bookable offences, instead focusing on close-ups of other players.

A spokesman for The FA confirmed that they would be discussing the matter with ITV.