Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler slammed over Hillsborough comment

Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler has been slammed after linking Hillsborough to ‘other hooligan related issues’.

The 76-year-old was speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today show ahead of the new Premier League season, which begins on Friday evening as Crystal Palace host Arsenal at Selhurst Park.

Tyler, who has worked for Sky since 1990, was asked during the interview about the early days of broadcasting in the Premier League.

‘It was very pioneering,’ he said. ‘We didn’t know quite what the league, the change in structure of the league, how that would work.

‘We certainly didn’t know how satellite television, as it was called in those days, would work. But it was a great adventure and 3,000 live matches later, not all commentated by me thankfully for the public, it does seem it worked.’

But Tyler then added: ‘You’ve got to remember football was in a bit of a crisis at that time. We weren’t that long after Hillsborough and other hooligan related issues as well, so it was very much a difficult time for the game generally.’

Astonishing too, that his remarks go unchallenged. But this happens far too often. It isn’t the first time and sadly won’t be the last.

Tyler himself should know better but why do interviewers never challenge these smears that have been so resoundingly disproven time and again? pic.twitter.com/nH3fXQCGwi

Tyler was referring to the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 which resulted in the unlawful deaths of 97 Liverpool fans at Sheffield Wednesday’s stadium before their FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

A statement from the BBC read: ‘We regret that we did not robustly challenge Martin Tyler on a comment which appeared to link Hillsborough and hooliganism.

‘Martin has since apologised for the comment and clarified that these were separate examples and he did not intend to conflate the two.’

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram described Tyler’s comments as ‘exceptionally crass’.

‘A man who should know much better,’ Rotheram wrote on Twitter.

‘Even now, people whose careers are built on football still spread these foul smears. I hope there’ll be an apology sharpish.

‘Astonishing too, that his remarks go unchallenged. But this happens far too often. It isn’t the first time and sadly won’t be the last.

‘Tyler himself should know better but why do interviewers never challenge these smears that have been so resoundingly disproven time and again?’

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