Disney's New Women's Champions League Show Sparks Fan Outrage Over 'Woke' Elements

Disney's new Match of the Day-style football show, 'The Hangout,' fronted by Alex Scott, has drawn significant criticism from fans following its debut episode. The program, aimed at analyzing the Women's Champions League, was met with backlash on social media for what viewers described as a chaotic and "woke" approach, deviating from traditional football coverage.

The show featured a panel that included former footballer Lianne Sanderson alongside influencers Tyra Mills and Alex Bailess. Early segments reportedly focused on topics such as pasta and cucumbers, and an influencer dog named Barley was introduced. The dog was used in a segment to predict the Champions League winner by selecting food.

One segment involved Dutch twins Sanne and Merel van Dongen during a "watch party," where they offered Scott a cucumber and joked about the water possibly being vodka. Barley the dog was also present, and at one point seemed distressed by a rotating studio floor used to transition between segments. The dog ran off but was reportedly lured back with pretzels.

Fans expressed their disappointment online, with one user writing, "Disney said they were a brand and ran with it. They thought a revolving sofa and dog would keep the attention of the girls whilst watching the football and stuck an ad mid game because no one’s really watching." The same user argued that "fans of women's football do not need cute, we'd love impartial analysis, post-match interviews with the team that's played and less dog." Another viewer questioned the presence of the dog, asking, "Am I watching the coverage for the football or Crufts?"

Further criticism was leveled at the inclusion of advertisements during live match play. A three-minute ad break reportedly occurred during the second half of Arsenal's 1-0 victory over HB Koge. Viewers were able to select which match they wished to watch, but the ad placement mid-game was described as "diabolical."

Disney has held the rights to the Women's Champions League for two years, with 'The Hangout' being a new addition this season. The show is scheduled to broadcast live from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., with Alex Scott rotating presenting duties with Shebahn Aherne. The broadcast also experienced technical difficulties, including a reporter initially losing sound during a segment about Italy.

The primary concern for many viewers was that the football itself appeared to be secondary to the show's unconventional elements, and there is hope for improvements in future episodes.