Bianca Westwood Says She Won't Return to Football Reporting

Former Sky Sports reporter Bianca Westwood has stated she is unlikely to ever work in football again, following her redundancy from the broadcaster in 2023. Westwood, 51, spent 22 years with Sky Sports before deciding to leave.

In a recent TikTok video, Westwood addressed messages from followers asking about her potential return to football coverage. She clarified that she is not going back to Sky and does not anticipate a future in football reporting. "I'm not going back to Sky and I'm probably never going to work in football again," she said.

Westwood, who was the first female reporter on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday, indicated that opportunities in football journalism had become scarce and that she felt undervalued. "I had a feeling, probably about a year before I left Sky that the opportunities were becoming few and far between, they didn't really rate me," she explained.

She has now pivoted to creating content focused on fashion, beauty, skincare, women's health, and menopause, areas she enjoys. "All my content now is geared towards women," Westwood noted.

Westwood cited changes in how football is covered as a reason for her departure. She recalled a time when reporters had more access to players, allowing for varied interviews and activities. "When I first started reporting, you could go out, take players to different locations for interviews, go golfing or sailing or clay pigeon shooting, paintballing, you name it, I've done it," she said. "But now you literally get shoved into a room, especially in the Premier League, with a light, there's probably about 10 other broadcasters globally who are either going before you or waiting for you to finish."

She added that the experience of covering the sport has changed, and her personal engagement with football has also waned. "Since I've left Sky, I haven't watched football that much either. I took a break from it, I still love the game but just not kind of how it is now," Westwood stated.

While Westwood expressed that she would have considered a new role in football if a suitable opportunity had presented itself three years ago, none were offered, and her passion for the sport in its current form had diminished. She concluded by saying she is "not holding her breath" for a return to football, unless an exceptionally compelling job offer arises.