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Foul fan language leads BT Sport to scrap post-match interviews outside football grounds

By William Turvill and Press Association

BT Sport will no longer carry post-match interviews outside football grounds after fans were heard swearing before the 9pm watershed.

Communications watchdog Ofcom investigated a complaint made about a discussion hosted by Jake Humphrey (pictured: Reuters) after the game between Arsenal and Liverpool in North London.

It reported that "offensive language", which breached the broadcast code, could be heard at around 6.25pm – well before the watershed – after the crowd outside the Emirates Stadium started chanting in the background. According to The Guardian, Arsenal fans could be heard saying "fucking".

BT told Ofcom it had "reviewed and updated its procedures" and "it would in future not broadcast post-match analysis and interviews taking place on a platform outside a football ground".

Ofcom acknowledged that Humphrey had apologised as soon as possible and said BT, which was involved in a similar case last year, would be asked to "a meeting to discuss its compliance arrangements".

BT said it would continue to film pre-match coverage outside grounds because it "considered the risk of unacceptable language was 'significantly reduced' for those clips.

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