Football fans have taken to social media to complain after Christian Norgaard was interviewed at HALF TIME of Brentford's win against Bournemouth on Saturday evening.
Sky Sports viewers were not happy that the Bees skipper was asked for his opinion by a reporter. The interview unfolded on the pitch, with one fan asking: "Surely that's the last thing the players want to do after running around for 45 minutes?"
Half-time interviews were introduced by the Premier League and Sky Sports at the beginning of this season. It's the latest innovation by the broadcaster, who are looking at news ways to find an edge on their rivals BBC Sport, BT Sport and Amazon Prime.
Brentford defeated Bournemouth 2-0 at home on Saturday evening to jump above Liverpool, who lost 3-0 at Brighton, in the Premier League. Thomas Frank's side are now eighth - just six points behind Newcastle in fourth having played a game more.
Ivan Toney scored a penalty in the first half before Mathias Jensen's strike secured the points after the break. As the score was 1-0 at half-time, Sky Sports were eager to get the thoughts of Brentford skipper Norgaard on the importance of the first goal.
Norgaard said: "Yeah it's very important, especially on a penalty. It's difficult circumstances, but I think after the first 10 or 15 minutes it's been us that's been the best team."
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Norgaard was then asked if he was worried Toney, who has a brilliant record from the spot, would miss the penalty. He replied: "No [I had no doubts], never!"
Norgaard was interviewed for around 20 seconds as he made his way off the pitch. Sky Sports have been showing live Premier League games since the division was founded in 1992, but that was the first time they've interviewed a player on the pitch at half-time.
Despite the historic moment, viewers on social media were not best pleased. One fan tweeted: "Interviewed walking off the pitch at half-time? That is terrible."
While another viewer wrote: "Far too many interviews happen on a matchday now. The only ones I ever care to listen to are the post-match ones with the players and managers, to hear their thoughts on how the game went. Pre-match ones have always seemed pointless to me and half-time ones are just rude and intrusive."
Another said: "Awful please don’t do this again. Talk about ruining the game."
Yet not all fans were against the idea. One tweeted: "Half-time interviews are a great idea - short, sweet and something we don't often see. Would like to see more of this."
There was no obligation for Norgaard to speak to Sky Sports and the interview would've been arranged before the game. The Premier League amended their rules last summer to allow half-time interviews to unfold, meaning more are likely to happen in the future.
The relevant rule reads: "In respect of each league match to be transmitted live by a UK broadcaster, the UK broadcaster may request that the manager (or a senior member of the coaching staff) of either or each participating club provides an interview at the end of the half-time interval, before the re-start of the league match.
"The manager may elect to provide the interview requested or decline to do so, at his/her absolute discretion."
Half-time interviews are not a new innovation. For example, legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was often interviewed during the interval of Champions League games when ITV broadcasted the competition. Nottingham Forest icon Brian Clough was also interviewed by ITV at half-time during the 1979 League Cup final.
But this is the first time a player has been interviewed at half-time in English football.
