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Friday, 16 October 2026dailybeirut.com
Football
Alex Scott has stepped down from presenting the Women's Champions League on Disney+, citing a desire to focus on new projects following recent technical controversies.
Alex Scott will no longer lead the broadcast team for the UEFA Women's Champions League on Disney+. The presenter made the decision to step away just over a month after her production company, First Cap, debuted its inaugural program, One More Word. This move comes weeks after the BBC removed Football Focus from its lineup, ending a 52-year run for the magazine show.
Scott founded First Cap in May, shortly before the conclusion of last season. During that period, the BBC discontinued Football Focus, a program where she had served as the first permanent female presenter for five years. According to reports from The Guardian, Scott chose to leave her position at Disney+ to concentrate on other professional endeavors, including her new series which focuses on England’s top-tier women’s football league.
The former host continues to present Women’s Super League matches for the BBC. She recently marked her 42nd birthday on Wednesday. Disney+ secured the broadcasting rights for the Women's Champions League only last May through a five-season agreement covering all 75 matches.
This season, Disney+'s coverage faced significant criticism regarding technical execution. Viewers highlighted problems with broadcasts produced by ESPN, particularly during the match between Arsenal and HB Koge. Advertisements noticeably interrupted the feed, resulting in approximately three minutes of the second half going unaired. Some audiences were left watching a "commercial break in progress" message.
Scott addressed these concerns in an interview with the Observer. "Ultimately, do I agree with all the decisions that were made? Absolutely not," she stated. "Did I try and advise? Yes, but I can only do so much. But nobody sees the conversations, the fights I have behind the scenes. But I can hold my head up and know that I've always tried my best for the greater good of women's sport."
A spokesperson for Disney+ issued a statement thanking Scott for her contributions. "We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Alex Scott for her contribution to our coverage of the UEFA Women's Champions League on Disney+," the representative said. "Her passion for the women's game and the competition shone through throughout her time with us, and we are grateful for all she contributed. We wish her every success." This quote was reported by the Express.
Representatives for Scott also provided a response, noting: "Alex is grateful for the opportunities she has had to work with the team at Disney+ and hopes that they continue to work together in the future."
Disney+ plans to resume its broadcasting schedule on October 28. Lianne Sanderson, Nedum Onuoha, and Shebahn Aherne are reportedly set to remain part of the presenting team. They will be joined by commentators Jacqui Oatley and Vicki Sparks.
