The BBC has apologised on-air after being fiercely criticised for mistakenly flashing up a picture of Raheem Sterling while reporting on a player who has been arrested on suspicion of rape.
In a massive blunder, BBC faced enormous criticism for mistakenly flashing a picture of Chelsea's Raheem Sterling while reporting on a Premier League player who has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of rape.
The broadcaster reported that the club, whose player is expected to feature at the Qatar World Cup 2022, is not suspending the 29-year-old star despite having been arrested on rape suspicion.
Also read: Fans outraged after World Cup-bound Premier League star arrested on suspicion of rape
The suspect, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was first detained earlier this month and later detained again for allegedly committing two additional assaults on a different victim.
However, host Mike Bushell appeared with a photo of Sterling, a new Chelsea striker, who is not the person who was arrested, when this most recent development was discussed on BBC News on Thursday morning.
The former Manchester City forward was announced as Chelsea's latest signing on Tuesday, with a price tag of 50 million pounds. His arrival at Stamford Bridge was confirmed yesterday, with pictures of Sterling in his new kit.
One of these snaps was wrongly displayed on the screen behind Bushell when he gave a rundown of the latest sports headlines on BBC News.
The host said, "A Premier League player arrested on suspicion of rape has not been suspended and can fulfil his professional…' before tailing off suddenly."
The picture then flashed off the screen, returning to the BBC Sport title card. Bushell then said, "We'll have more on that story a bit later. I was going to say, they can still travel, the player has not been named, still can travel and fulfil the arrangements of the team's pre-season."
"We don't know the team. We don't know the player either," he added.
The host then moved swiftly on after the awkward moment by giving updates on hockey. The BBC News channel has since issued an on-air apology following the error in their sports bulletin.
"In our sports bulletin this morning, owing to a technical error, the wrong picture appeared in connection with the story of a Premier League player arrested over alleged sexual offences. A picture of a different and wholly unconnected player was shown. We apologise for this mistake," the BBC said after the gaffe.
Did anyone else just see the BBC News mention a footballer and rape allegations, with a picture of Raheem Sterling, that was suddenly removed and the presenter try to change the subject?! What's going on? pic.twitter.com/XeU88vOQmK
— Tom - JOIN A UNION! (@Massivetoe)Several football fans took to Twitter to point out the blunder and also slam BBC for using Sterling's photo in the Premier League rape case report.
One wrote on Twitter, "Did anyone else just see the BBC News mention a footballer and rape allegations, with a picture of Raheem Sterling, that was suddenly removed and the presenter try to change the subject?! What's going on?"
Here's a look at some of the other reactions on Twitter:
This!! Is utterly disgraceful! What kind of mistake is made with something so serious like a alleged crime! Same s%*# different day! We don’t all look the same! This is how so many BLACK MEN are killed.. Because they been mistaken for someone else! https://t.co/hCWioUXtLM
— Judi Love (@1Judilove)Is Raheem Sterling the footballer facing rape allegations if not why put up his picture? You've definitely planted in our minds that the unnamed player is Black. You don't know the team or player but you name & use Raheem's image? What???? https://t.co/4FwVHSUI7l
— Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (@SholaMos1)Did just mistakenly put up a pic of when discussing an unnamed player accused of rape. Apology needed but really thus is intentional pic.twitter.com/MfTwZcEhpj
— Joanne Benjamin-Lewis (@jayblessed1)BBC taking the piss putting that picture of while mentioning an arrest for rape. These things ain’t accident
— Bradersheadmovementtv (@bradersb10)Like this is a loser move 🫣. A national platform like the associate a story of rape with the image of . It’s said that an apology for the mistake but apologies can only go so far. We all deserve real change. pic.twitter.com/m1YHQe8Tbq
— YEEEAAH! Network (@yeeeaahnetwork)Oh dear, BBC reporting on the footballer arrested for rape showing a pic of Raheem Sterling in his Chelsea kit in the background. Confusion all round. Someone’s getting fired, or sued.
— Shents (@jnshenton)WTF can you apologise for putting a photo up of when you were talking about a premier league player rape case!!
— cheryl (@Chezricho)Wait hold on, did just put up a picture of Raheem Sterling during a report about a footballer charged with rape? WTF was that!??? Since when was he accused of rape? Did they reach for a picture of ANY black footballer?
— iblamecountrymusic (@judgemental1290)This is disgraceful and on the media to continue its negative and in portraying people like (albeit mistakenly🙄) when sharing the news of an unnamed football player who is accused of rape! People cannot what is shown https://t.co/jdVfFjFGxL
— Jacqueline A. Hinds MA (HRD) CEIC MCEP (@ReleasingYou)Whoops . Mike Bushell talking about the Premiership player who is accused of rape . And got his story's mixed up at put up a pic of Raheem Sterling
— Tony (@toshtheblues)fucking evil. raheem sterling has been subject to *so* much abuse his whole career and now his face has been tied to rape allegations even though he’s not the footballer? https://t.co/a93DZkmmEd
— dylan 👨💻 (@liminalgenZer)WTF
I think you need to offer a apology straight away . I know mistakes can be made , but for F@ sake showing picture in connection with the rape story is bang out of order! # pic.twitter.com/kb0qqMaJjT
What did I just see on . An apology and statement needs to be made about picture and reports of a premier league player accused of rape. This is out of order.
— Frank Amoako-Gyampah (@Frank_Amoako)